When we went to SG in 2008, we ate Hainanese Chicken at least once a day. We couldn't get enough of it. And somehow, they tasted the same in every restaurant! Or is it just me?
Anyway, since I wanted to do a healthy but still yummy dish, I tried this out:
Maite's Recipe for Hainanese Chicken Rice
CHICKEN
1 Whole Chicken ( Reserve the chicken fat from the neck, tail and back for the rice )
2 big bunches of Pandan
1 large ginger root ( equivalent to 1 cup sliced ginger)
Rock Salt
Water ( maybe 2 liters - a lot because you need it for the rice and soup as well)
After cleaning whole chicken, stuff with bunches of pandan and pieces of ginger
Put chicken in a stock pan and fill with water till chicken is covered.Add remainder of the pandan and ginger and season with salt
Boil until chicken is cooked – no more blood running
Remove chicken from stock pan, allow to cool before cutting to serving pieces. Ideally the chicken is to be serve cold or room temp
Garnish with chopped cucumbers and spring onion. Brush the chicken with some toyo before serving for added color and flavor.
Miren's note: my chicken was too thin, maybe I should use a really fat chicken for this recipe.
Rice
Saute chicken fat in a little oil, add the washed white rice and use the strained chicken stock to cook the rice. Add some pandan when you cook the rice for more fragrant flavor. After rice is cooked ( you can cook it in the rice cooker) remove all chicken fat bones pieces, whole condiments and leaves.
Serve rice in molded cups or in a bowl if you like
(Rice variation – no need to sauté anything , instead of the pure chicken stock use 50% diluted coconut milk and add some pandan, dilaw ginger and lemon grass stalks – this is called Indonesian Yellow rice – a personal favorite of mine – more tasty and appetizing also great with sate dishes)
Soup
Strain the remainder chicken stock into a bowl and add diced tofu and shredded lettuce and spring onions
SAUCES TO SERVE WITH THE CHICKEN
Toyo and honey
Grated ginger and sesame oil / vegetable oil
Store bought Chili sauce
This recipe is so delicious, you'll forget you're not in Singapore!
If you dont have all the ingredients or you're just plain lazy, you can cheat and use the mix. The only thing the mix doesn't have are the sauces and ofcourse the chicken.
