Chicken Braised With Ginger And Star Anise Food

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH STAR ANISE SAUCE, GINGER CARROTS AND SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Clean the chicken and sprinkle the entire bird, inside and out, with salt and pepper. Stuff the bird with the oranges, garlic, onions, celery, rosemary and thyme. Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and bake for 20 minutes. If the chicken is browning too quickly, turn the oven down to 375 degrees F and cook until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, tent with foil and let rest 30 minutes. While the chicken is cooking, work on the garnishes.
• For the snow peas and carrots: Fill a large pot with water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Prepare an ice bath by placing ice cubes and water in a bowl. Set aside. Dump the snap peas into the boiling water and cook until al dente. Be sure to test the peas as they are cooking to prevent them from overcooking. Use a slotted spoon to remove the snow peas from the water and plunge into the ice bath. Remove from the ice when cool and reserve until service.
• Put the carrots, ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons butter and brown sugar in a saute pan and add water until the carrots are barely covered. The carrots should be in a single layer. Put on high heat and cook until all the water is nearly evaporated. Cover and set aside for service.
• For the star anise sauce: Combine the stock, soy sauce, anise seeds, honey, vinegar, sesame oil and thyme and reduce until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
• Once the chicken has rested, carve the bird by removing the legs from the thighs and slicing the breasts in half. Pour any juices that have collected in the pan into the sauce and hold warm over low heat.
• To finish the snap peas, heat a saute pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Once it is bubbly, add the garlic and snap peas. Season with salt and pepper. To finish the carrots, gently reheat over medium heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to moisten.
• Once everything is hot, serve a piece of white and dark meat garnished with the carrots, snap peas and drizzled with the sauce.

CHICKEN BRAISED WITH GINGER AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Heat a wok over medium heat, add the peppercorns and cook, shaking often for 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
• Remove and crush lightly with the back of a knife.
• Reheat the wok, add the oil and swirl to coat.
• Add the ginger and garlic and cook over a low heat for 1-2 minutes, or until lightly golden.
• Add the chicken, increase the heat to medium and cook for 3 minutes, or until browned all over.
• Add the remaining ingredients, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is tender.
• Serve with rice.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH GINGER AND CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• If using dried chestnuts, soften for 4 hours in warm water and then simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, cool and set aside. If using frozen, blanch for 3 minutes, drain, cool and set aside.
• In a wok or heavy-bottomed casserole, warm the oil over high heat. When sizzling, add the ginger and scallions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken and stir to make sure that each piece is cooked until consistently golden.
• Add the soy sauce, the sherry, the sugar, and the salt and toss chicken pieces to coat evenly, for 2 minutes. Add the water, the star anise and the softened chestnuts. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste, adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper and serve immediately.

GINGER AND STAR ANISE POACHED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a small saucepan with all the other ingredients.
• Slowly bring to the boil and simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until just cooked through.
• Remove chicken from liquid.
• Serve chicken, thinly sliced on a bed of jasmine rice and baby bok choy.
• You can also make a sauce for the chicken using 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (heated in a small pan), then add 1 1/2 tablespoons grated ginger and 4 finely sliced green onions with a little salt.
• Stir and serve over chicken if desired.
• Strain the stock and reserve for another use (makes a lovely soup base).

SPICY BRAISED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Heat peanut oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to bowl. Add mushrooms, 1 1/2 cups green onions, garlic and ginger to pot. Sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to pot. Add chicken broth, hoisin sauce and star anise. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from pot; cool slightly. Remove skin and bones from chicken and discard. Cut meat crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
• Meanwhile, boil mixture in pot until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes. Stir in cabbage and chili sauce. Boil until cabbage is tender, about 4 minutes. Return chicken to pot; simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Discard star anise. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup green onions.

STAR ANISE-GINGER "BRAISED" WHOLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. In Dutch oven, combine celery, carrots, onions, peppercorns, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, star anise, ginger, and soy sauce. Add chicken broth and season. 2. Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Add chicken to pot, breast-side up; cover completely with stock. 3. Cover and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat, and barely simmer for 45 minutes. Turn off heat and let pot stand, covered, for ½-1 hour. Remove chicken and strain broth, reserving vegetables. Carve chicken and serve with vegetables and bowls of broth.