Soya Chinese Chicken Food

SOY SAUCE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and set aside. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium heat, add the halved spring onions, ginger, star anise and bay leaves. Stir-fry for 5 mins until fragrant and the spring onions turn slightly golden.
• Pour in the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, 2 tbsp of the sugar and 480ml water. Turn the heat up to high and bring the liquid to the boil.
• Slide in the chicken thighs, skin-side down, arranging them in a single layer. Add water if needed to just about cover the chicken.
• Turn the heat down low, cover the wok or pan and simmer for 35 mins. Turn the thighs over and cook covered for another 10 mins.
• Remove the chicken to a plate. When the thighs are cool enough to handle, remove the bones and slice into pieces about 1cm thick. Arrange on a serving dish.
• While the chicken is cooling, strain 150ml of the braising liquid into a small pan and discard the solids. Put the pan over a medium heat and just before it starts to boil, add the cornflour mixture and remaining brown sugar. Once the sauce reaches your desired thickness, remove from the heat. (It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.) Pour it over the sliced chicken or serve in a bowl on the side for dipping. Garnish with the sliced spring onion. Serve with jasmine rice and steamed greens, or vegetables of your choice.

FIVE-SPICE, SOY & LEMON ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put most of the sliced ginger into a large roasting tin, then sit the chicken on top. Stuff the chicken with remaining ginger, the green ends from one bunch of onions, half of the garlic and a lemon half. Mix the five-spice, 2 tsp oil and seasoning, then rub all over the chicken. Nestle the other half of the garlic nearby, and drizzle all with 1 tsp oil. Loosely re-tie the legs. Set aside at room temperature for half an hour or so.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Roast the chicken for 1 hr. Toss the lemon wedges and the spring onion ends into the pan juices, then roast for 30 mins more or until the meat is cooked at the thickest part of the thigh and the lemon wedges are sticky. Lift the chicken from the pan and set aside, uncovered, to rest.
• Spoon away any excess fat from the pan, then put the pan onto a medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add 1 tsp sugar, the soy, hoisin, juice from the remaining half lemon and any resting juices. Simmer for a few mins until it thickens slightly, then check the seasoning and add more sugar if needed - don't add any extra salt as the soy and hoisin will add plenty. Serve with the chicken, rice and vegetables.

HONEY & SOY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, score the chicken thighs twice through the skin, season and transfer to a bowl.
• Whisk the honey with the soy, lemon juice, ketchup, ginger, garlic, chilli flakes and fennel seeds. Pour this over the chicken, making sure that each piece is coated, then cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2-3 hrs, or overnight if you have time.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Line a large roasting tin with foil and put in the oven to heat up for 10 mins. Gently shake the excess marinade off the chicken thighs, reserving the bowl of leftover marinade, then carefully arrange in a single layer in the hot tin. Drizzle with the oil and roast for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, pour the reserved marinade into a small pan and bring to the boil over a medium-low heat, stirring often. Cook for 7-10 mins, or until thick and syrupy.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and carefully pour any juices from the tin into the pan with the syrupy sauce and continue to cook for 5 mins until the sauce is the consistency of double cream.
• Spoon the sauce over the chicken, then return the roasting tin to the oven for 10-15 mins more, or until the thighs are sticky and tender, and the juices run clear when pierced with a knife. Slice some spring onions along their length and scrape a knife along the shreds to curl them, if you like, then scatter over the chicken. Serve warm or at room temperature with rice and salad or steamed greens.

CHINESE SOY SAUCE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients, except chicken, scallions, sesame seeds in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add chicken, then let simmer 30-40 minutes, turning chicken pieces occasionally.
• Remove chicken pieces from sauce and set aside in a serving platter.
• Skim fat from the sauce, thicken it with cornstarch mixture (1 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 TB water) and pour the sauce over chicken.
• Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds and serve with rice.

SLOW-COOKED SOY-GLAZED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Sit the chicken in a casserole dish, rub the marinade all over, and put the ginger peel in the cavity. Cover and leave at room temperature to marinate for 1 hr, or in the fridge overnight.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix the stock ingredients in a jug, then pour over the chicken. Roast for 1 hr, uncovered, then baste with the liquid in the dish. Roast for 30-40 mins more, basting every 10 mins, until the chicken is deep brown. Keep an eye on the glaze in the base of the dish - you may need to add a splash of water to keep it from burning.
• Leave the chicken to rest for 20 mins, then transfer to a board. Skim the fat from the juices, bring to the boil, then turn off the heat. Shred the thigh and leg meat and wrap in the lettuce leaves along with the spring onions, cucumber, chilli, coriander and nuts. Slice the breast meat and serve withthe rice and warm roasting juices.

HONEY & SOY CHICKEN WITH SESAME BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the soy, honey, 1 tbsp of the oil and ½ tbsp garlic & ginger paste in a bowl. Pour over the chicken thighs and leave to marinate if you have time, but don't worry if not - they will be delicious either way. Tip the chicken with all the marinade into a roasting tin, skin-side up. Cook for 45 mins until sticky and the skin is crispy.
• When the chicken has 15 mins left, start cooking the rice following pack instructions, if using, and heat the remaining oil in a frying pan. Add the remaining garlic & ginger paste, sizzle for 1 min, then tip in the broccoli along with a splash of water. Cover and cook for 10 mins until tender, then take the lid off, tip the sesame seeds into the pan and give everything a good toss around. Season. Serve with the chicken, and all the caramelised bits from the bottom of the tin.