Steamed Chicken And Ham Food

EASY STEAM CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken and salt in a bowl. Evenly rub salt into chicken. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Rinse chicken and place in a pot fitted with a steamer basket over water. Bring water to a boil, and steam chicken until juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook until tender. Mix in garlic, and cook about 1 minute. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil, and remove from heat. Scoop over the chicken to serve. Garnish with cilantro.

CHICKEN & HAM PIE

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a large pan with the carrots, potatoes, celery, half the thyme and seasoning. Add stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook gently for 15 minutes. Set a colander over a large bowl, pour in the pan contents and remove thyme. Reserve 600ml/1 pint stock (rest can be frozen).
• Rinse the pan, return to heat and melt the butter. Cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, then the reserved stock a little at a time, to make a smooth thick sauce. Add the milk and simmer for 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the remaining thyme, lemon juice and parsley. Season.
• Mix together the chicken, vegetables and ham in a deep 2.2litre/4 pint ovenproof dish, preferably with a rim or lip. Pour over the sauce and leave to cool slightly. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C.
• Roll out the pastry to about 5cm/2in larger than the top of the dish. Cut a 2.5cm/1in strip from all round the pastry. Brush the rim of the dish with egg and press the strip all round. Brush with egg and lift the pastry on to it, pressing the edges to seal thoroughly. Trim off excess, then mark the pastry edge all round with a fork. Make 4 small slits in the centre. Brush with egg and bake for 25-30 minutes until crisp and golden.

CHICKEN & HAM CASSEROLE WITH MUSTARDY DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter in an ovenproof casserole over a medium heat. Add the onion, leeks and carrots and a pinch of salt, and fry gently for 10 mins until softened and translucent. Add the chicken, turn up the heat and fry for 5 mins. Pour in the cider, cook for 3 mins, then pour in the chicken stock and add the bunch of thyme. Bring to a simmer, season to taste, then reduce to a low heat and cover the pan. Cook for 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan gas 4. Make the dumplings by mixing together the flour, baking powder, mustard powder, the suet or butter, parsley and ½ tsp salt. Swiftly mix in 8-10 tbsp of water and bring together with your hands. The dough should be firm and pliable. Divide into eight equal-sized pieces, weighing for accuracy if you like.
• Remove the bunch of thyme from the stew and discard. Spoon a little of the liquid into a bowl and mix with the cornflour, then stir the mixture into the casserole. Add the ham hock, peas and mustard. Arrange the dumplings on top of the stew, then put in the oven, covered, for 30 mins. Remove the lid and cook for a further 10 mins until the dumplings are puffed up and golden brown. Serve in bowls. To freeze the stew, leave to cool completely, then transfer to a freezerproof container. Will keep for up to three months. Defrost thoroughly, then reheat until piping hot.

STEAMED CHICKEN AND HAM

Steps:

• 1. With a cleaver, chop chicken, bones and an, in 1 1/2- to 2-inch sections. Slice smoked ham 1/2-inch thick, then in 1 1/2-inch squares. 2. In a heatproof bowl, arrange alternating layers of chicken sections, skin-side up, and squares of ham. 3. Sprinkle with oil, using a circular motion. Season with salt. Mince scallion stalks and sprinkle over the top. 4. Steam until done (about 45 minutes). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. Garnish with Chinese parsley and serve. VARIATION: * After step 1, toss the chicken sections gently to coat in a mixture of 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons sherry, 2 tablespoons ginger root, minced 1 tablespoon oil or chicken fat 1/2 teaspoon salt and a dash of pepper. In step 2, top with the ham squares and 1 cup canned button mushrooms. Omit step 3 pick up step 4.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.