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Herbal Chicken


This is steamed whole chicken with Chinese herbs and sauce.  Steaming the chicken wrapped in foil, helps to retain the natural juice from the chicken thus enhancing the taste.  Tasted somewhat like the Salted Baked Chicken except that this is wet with more gravy!




Place the herbs and sauce in a small pot, bring it to the boil, leave to cool.
Spoon this sauce over and inside the chicken before wrapping in the foil.


Chicken after steaming for about an hour.
I prefer to put the chicken under the grill for a good 3 mins. to get the slightly singed texture.








This gravy will pair very well with a bowl of hot white rice ..................  Enjoy!

Ingredients
  • 800 gm free range chicken, head and legs removed
  • 10 gm  Dong Quai/Angelica Sinensis 
  • 10 gm Kei Chi/Wolfberries
  • 10 red dates, seeded and cut
Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp each of - sugar and light soya sauce
  • 2 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
Preparation
  1. Clean the chicken, pat dry and rub in some salt, inside out, keep aside.
  2. In a small pot add in 1/2 cup water, dong quai, red dates and all the seasoning, bring to a boil and toss in the washed kei chi/wolfberries.  Leave to cool.
  3. Prepare a steamer to steam the chicken.
  4. Slowly spoon the seasoning into the cavity and over the whole chicken, wrap up the chicken in foil.
  5. Put the wrapped up chicken on a steamer rack.  Steam under rapidly boiling water for about an hour or more, depending on the size of the chicken.
  6. Open up the foil, test for doneness by pricking on the chicken thigh with a fork, to see whether there's any blood coming out.
  7. Put the chicken under the grill for about 3 mins.
  8. Cut up the chicken with a pair of kitchen scissors.
  9. Serve hot with rice.

Labels:

Comments

  1. ReanaclaireOctober 8, 2010 at 10:41 AM

    i used to do this for my kids too.. healthy and nice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. penny aka jeroxieOctober 8, 2010 at 12:34 PM

    Mum bought me all these herbs.. I better use it all before she comes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ydOctober 8, 2010 at 1:27 PM

    The chicken looks very succulent. Yummy..

    ReplyDelete
  4. BakericiousOctober 8, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    My MIL always cook this but using chicken thigh, delicious :).

    ReplyDelete
  5. 3 hungry tummiesOctober 8, 2010 at 2:16 PM

    I have been wanting to try making this. Now I know just what to put in. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  6. PeteOctober 8, 2010 at 2:29 PM

    I am making herbal pork ribs tonight....LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MaryMohOctober 8, 2010 at 3:03 PM

    Yes, my favourite. I sure need more nutritious food like this to keep me going in this coming winter months.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My Little SpaceOctober 8, 2010 at 3:56 PM

    I love this with rice! Another simple and delicious dish for dinner. I normally used the leftover to make porridge for the next day. Included the gravy! Yummm.... Hope you're enjoying your day.
    Kristy

    ReplyDelete
  9. ElinOctober 8, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    I love this steaming with foil..it helps to retain the moistness of the chicken and like you say enhanced the flavor more :) Great clicks...makes me salivate. After a hard day at work..with this waiting for me at home is a dream :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak LoverOctober 8, 2010 at 6:45 PM

    yummy, i have so long did not cook this, thanks for remind me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. lenaOctober 8, 2010 at 9:56 PM

    i used to cook this dish too, together with shredded mushrooms..except for the grilling part..next time i'll try putting it on grill too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ann lowOctober 8, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    Oh...You are making me hungry again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sokehah cheahOctober 9, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    Claire
    Yes, healthy and easy job!

    Penny
    Ya, better make full use of them!

    yd
    Thanks for visiting, will hop over to yours soon!

    Jess
    Oh yes, can do with chicken legs, best with kampong chicken legs, more flavour.

    3 hungry tummies
    So, we'll be seeing more herbal dishes from your site soon!

    MaryMoh
    Do perk up your body for the winter, you're so tiny!

    Kristy
    No more leftover! Can just devour on its own!

    Elin
    Tell you what, ask your hubby to make this!

    Pete
    Oh, herbal ribs! Must try.

    Sonia
    My pleasure!

    lena
    It'll be delicious with shredded mushrooms too.

    Anncoo
    Really? Too bad can't courier to you, ha, ha! If you do visit Ipoh, I'll 'ta pau' some famous Ipoh saltbaked chicken for you. My KL friends will just drive down and get them!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Angie's RecipesOctober 9, 2010 at 4:13 PM

    I want some too! The chicken looks so tender and juicy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cooking GalleryOctober 10, 2010 at 5:52 AM

    I love herbal chicken soup, it's very comforting...!

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownOctober 10, 2010 at 7:39 PM

    just perfectly done, fresh and tender :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. petite nyonyaOctober 13, 2010 at 1:54 PM

    i love herbal chicken! so yummy! always my favorite when it is served during wedding dinners. i'm inspired to try it at home.

    ReplyDelete
  18. JacquelineOctober 16, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    Great dish! I usually do this the easier way - dump all the herbs, chicken pieces and sauces on a plate and steam straightaway. Will try your method one day soon since my MIL will be staying with us soon and she sure need all those goodness that your method will provide! :)
    Thanks for sharing, my friend!

    ReplyDelete

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