Star Anise Ginger Braised Whole Chicken Food

CHICKEN SIMMERED IN SOY AND STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Place the ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, cooking wine or sherry, star anise, cinnamon stick and sugar in a frying pan over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Add the chicken and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
• Add the greens to the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until tender.
• Place chicken and greens on serving plates and spoon over pan juices as sauce.
• Serve with steamed rice.

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.

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 ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the chicken in a large roasting tin, then put a few onion slices, garlic cloves, a small piece of the ginger and 1 star anise inside the chicken.
• Brush chicken all over with the sesame oil. Pour over the stock, then scatter all of the remaining veg into the tin. Grate the rest of the ginger and garlic over the chicken and veg, and add the remaining star anise to the stock. Cover the chicken with foil and roast for 1 hr. Remove the foil twice to baste the chicken with the liquid.
• Mix the soy and sugar together. Remove the foil and pour over the soy mixture, then return to the oven for 15-20 mins. Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid and cook for 10 mins. Set aside and keep warm.
• When the chicken is cooked through - the juices should run clear when a sharp knife is inserted into the thickest part of the thigh - remove from the tin and rest on a plate covered with foil.
• Pour a ladleful of the juices from the tin into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Mix the cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water and add to the pan. Heat, stirring continuously, until thickened. Strain the gravy into a jug. Stir and press the onions to squeeze out any extra juices. Drain the potatoes and mash with the olive oil. Serve half the chicken with the veg and half the gravy. Save the rest for Chicken, vegetable & noodle soup (see 'goes well right', right)