MEMBER RECIPE
steamed szechuan chicken Recipe
By mr_morcilla
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I made this up b/c I was craving that moist, velvety chicken like some chinese restaurants have. You can season it with anything, really. CAVEAT: The skin is soft and pallid, not brown and crisp like a baked chicken.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tbsp Szechuan peppercorns (available at Chinese Grocers)
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1/2 bu Cilantro, rinsed clean.
- 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bu scallions, whole, trimmed, split lengthwise
INSTRUCTIONS
- A few hours, or the day before: prepare a rub by toasting peppercorns and salt in a small skillet over med-high heat until salt turns beige or golden. You can double or treble recipe and save for future uses.
- when cool enough to handle, grind salt-peppercorn mixture in very clean coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle
- On a clean cutting board, split rinsed chicken down the breast with shears or a big knife. pull breast halves apart and push chicken flat on cutting board.
- Coat entire chicken with peppercorn mixture. Don’t oversalt! You may have some rub leftover. put chicken in non-reactive plate or bowl, cover with plastic wrap, leave to marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or, ideally, a day.
- Boil a couple quarts of water for steaming in the lower section of a large oriental steamer pan, or any steamer pan that will accommodate the chicken laid flat.
Place chicken skin side up on steamer insert atop boiling water. - Sprinkle ginger and garlic on chicken, then scallions and cilantro sprigs. Cover, adjust heat to med-high for a steady boil.
- Steam for 30-40 minutes, until juices are clear, or meat at thigh joints are no longer pink when cut.
- Serve whole on a platter, or cut into pieces Chinese style before serving. Serve with rice, of course, and a your favorite Chinese green vegetable. Delicious at room temp or cold too, or as a Chicken Salad ingredient.
Member recipes are not tested by the CHOW food team.
