Herbal Chicken II

This is another version of 'Herbal Chicken' which is somewhat like soya sauce chicken except that there are herbs added on to it.

Clockwise ~ Chinese red dates, sweet, enhances and harmonizes the effects of other herbs. It helps to invigorate the spleen and stomach, nourishes the blood and calms the mind. Codonopsis root - 'Dong Sum',- commonly referred to as a poor man's ginseng, beneficial to the lung, spleen and stomach. Reduces blood pressure and increases immunity and haemoglobin. Chinese Angelica - 'Dong Quai', rich in iron is commony used in conjunction with other herbs as a remedy for disorders of the menstrual cycle. Also used to purify the blood stream and stimulate circulation. Wolfberries/Goji berries, help reduce fatigue and stress, can improve mental performance. Contain high level of antioxidants, higher than all the other fruits and veggies, second only to dark chocolates. Astragalus root - 'Bei Qi' also benefits the spleen and lung, lowers blood pressure and regulates the blood sugar.

After cooking the chicken for about 35 mins. or so, check whether it's completely cooked, then use a strainer to dish out the chicken.

I love the smell of the Dong Quai and this chicken is truly delicious especially served with hot white rice. Not a bad idea to whip this up for the coming CNY reunion dinner!

Ingredients

1.3 kg whole free-range chicken, with head and feet removed
5 gm each of : Bei Qi, Wolfberries and Dong Sum
3 pieces of Dong Quai
12 red dates, seeded
750 ml water
1 tsp each of : salt, light soya sauce, dark soya sauce and sugar
2 Tbsp Shaoxing wine
1 Tbsp oil for frying
Cucumber slices for garnishing

Preparation

Clean and wash the chicken, pat dry and rub with some salt, inside out.
Rinse the Chinese herbs and saute in a heated wok with the oil.
Add in the water and red dates, salt, sauces and sugar, bring to the boil.
Once it's boiling, put in the chicken, lower the heat to medium and bathe the chicken with the sauce. Cover and let simmer for about 20mins.
Turn over the chicken to the other side and let it cook for another 15 mins. Add in the wolfberries.
Prick the thickest part of the chicken, the thigh, with a fork to test whether the chicken is cooked. If no blood oozes out, the chicken is done. Test for taste.
Add in the Shaoxing wine and turn off heat.
Dish out the chicken with a strainer, drain and once cooled, chop it up and place on a serving plate.
Garnish with cucumber slices.
Serve hot with white rice.

Seasalt Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ 海盐巧克力曲奇饼

These dreamy and heavenly chocolate chip cookies will make your kitchen smell like a bakery. There is a divine contrast between sweet and salty for the slight pinch of seasalt flakes intensifies and brings out the chocolate flavour. Freshly baked, these cookies are slightly soft in the centre and crispy at the edges, but if you do have leftovers, these will be crunchy, stored in a cookie jar, for a few days. Seasalt Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ 海盐巧克力曲奇饼 Ingredients 170 gm plain flour 1 tsp baking soda 113 gm butter (unsalted) 80 gm brown sugar 40 gm caster sugar 1 'L' egg 1 tsp vanilla 200 gm chocolate chips 1/8 tsp salt Extra chocolate chips or mini chocolate buttons to put on top of cookie before baking Maldon seasalt flakes to sprinkle on cookie immediately after baking Method Sift the flour with baking soda and salt, set aside. In a stand mixer, beat the butter with the sugars, till soft and smooth. On low, add in the egg. Fold in 1/2 sifted flour, mix well fol

Herbal Jelly ~ Gui Ling Gao

H erbal Jelly ~ Gui Ling Ga o literally translated means 'Tortoise Jelly' is one of my family's favourite desserts. It's much more economical to prepare this at home for you'll need to fork out between Rm 9 to Rm 11 for a bowl of this cooling dessert in any of those herbal tea outlets. This soothing jelly, served chilled, is supposed to be able to help reduce our body heat, helps to get rid of toxins and is believed to be good for the skin thus culminating a healthier complexion.

Read on for the Recipe

Chicken Floss Cake ~ 鸡肉松蛋糕

It's normal to find buns coated with meat floss in any bakery, but yet to find a meat floss coated piece of cake. I saw this Chicken Floss Cake on youtube and was eager to give this a shot. The recipe is quite similar to a chiffon cake and I was curious to find out the taste which should be slightly sweetish and saltish. Wouldn't it be weird, I wonder. But it turned out that the taste is rather unique with a light and soft texture and my family members gave me a thumbs up and asked for more! Chicken Floss Cake ~ 鸡肉松蛋糕 Ingredients (A) 4 egg yolks 40 ml oil 50 ml milk 65 gm plain flour, sifted Chicken floss White sesame seeds Chopped spring onions (optional) a pinch of salt (B) 4 egg whites 40 gm caster sugar Method In a bowl, beat egg yolks, add in oil, mix well, then add in milk. Mix in sifted flour till well combined. In another clean bowl, beat egg whites till frothy, then add in sugar in 2 batches and beat til

Yummy BakesJanuary 21, 2011 at 11:15 AM
look a bit like black sauce chicken.
Smoky Wok (formerly Tastes of Home)January 21, 2011 at 12:24 PM
love herbal chicken of all kinds! Thanks for the explanation on the Chinese herbs :D
Elin ChiaJanuary 21, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Cheah, this looks good...simple and yet delicious and aromatic too with all the flavors of those herbs infused into the chicken :) mmmm yummy and hungry just looking at them :)
dinewithlenyJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:22 AM
I was just planning to make this chicken this coming week. I love herbal chicken. I just steam it sometimes, so that I don't need to watch fire. Lazy me...hehehe....looks yummylicious.
pigpigscornerJanuary 23, 2011 at 5:53 PM
This reminds me of begger's chicken! Looks so yummy!
Sokehah cheahJanuary 23, 2011 at 11:39 PM
Yummy Koh
Yes it does, difference is the herbs.

Jen
You are most welcome!

Elin
Simple and easy to cook recipes are on my agenda .... lazy!

dinewithleny
This requires the minimum monitoring.

pigpigscorner
You reminded me too!
lenaJanuary 23, 2011 at 11:48 PM
very nicely done..especially the color ..looks so tempting too..not sure about my family but i sure love this!
penny aka jeroxieJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:36 PM
I need to "no" as well!
AnonymousJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Herbal chicken looks absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
My Little SpaceJanuary 24, 2011 at 5:34 PM
Cheah, the chicken must be very flavourful! Your boy got the chance to eat this or not? :o)
Regards, Kristy
BinethFebruary 10, 2011 at 7:14 PM
Just had this for dinner. Everyone loved it. Going into my "Favourites"!
Sokehah cheahFebruary 10, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Bineth
So glad to know that you and your family enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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