Steamed Chicken Stuffed With Birds Nest Recipes

STEAMED AND DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH GLUTINOUS RICE

Steps:

• 1. Separately soak glutinous rice and dried mushrooms. Blanch lotus seeds. 2. Bone chicken, keeping its skin and natural shape intact (see HOW-TO, _Chicken: To bone). 3. Dice smoked ham, Chinese sausage and soaked mushrooms. Mix well with salt, soaked rice and lotus seeds. 4. Stuff chicken with mixture and sew up securely or skewer. Place bird in a deep heatproof bowl. Heat enough stock to cover chicken and pour over. 5. Steam 2 hours (see HOW-TO, _Steaming). 6. Drain chicken, reserving liquid for stock. Transfer bird to a platter and, with a spatula, gently flatten it, taking care that chicken does not burst. Let cool then dust lightly with cornstarch. 7. Wash and dry original steaming bowl. Return chicken and steam 15 minutes more. Let cool briefly. 8. Heat oil. Gently lower in bird, using a wire basket or large long-handled Chinese strainer. Deep-fry, basting and turning, until golden. Drain on paper toweling, then transfer to a cutting board. 9. With a sharp knife, cut through chicken and stuffing in z-inch slices, then in 2-inch squares. Arrange on a platter garnish with lemon wedges and serve. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

STEAMED SQUABS STUFFED WITH BIRD'S NEST

Steps:

• 1. Soak bird's nest. 2. Bone squabs, leaving their shape and skin intact (see HOW-TO, _Chicken: To bone). Rub birds, inside and out, with salt. 3. Stuff squabs with soaked bird's nest and sew up securely or skewer. Place in a heatproof bowl pour stock over. 4. Steam over low heat until squabs are tender (about 2 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. 5. Mince smoked ham sprinkle over the top. Serve squabs in their steaming bowl with stock. VARIATIONS: * For the whole bird's nest, substitute 1/2 cup dried bird's-nest chips. Instead of boning squabs, score them along the backbone, but do not cut through bone. Steam birds cut-side up. Serve cut-side down.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

STEAMED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH BIRD'S NEST

Steps:

• 1. Soak bird's nest. 2. Mince smoked ham and water chestnuts. Blend well with sherry, salt and soaked bird's nest. 3. Wipe chicken with a damp cloth. Make an incision along its backbone, but do not cut through bone. Stuff chicken with bird's nest mixture and sew up securely or skewer. 4. Place bird in a large heatproof bowl and pour stock over. Steam over low heat until tender (2 to 3 hours). See HOW-TO, _Steaming. NOTE: A rich clear stock should be used for this dish. Bird's nest soup may be made in advance, refrigerated and reheated. The stock should be clear and rich with no trace of fat. A concentrated stock can be prepared by cooking a 3-pound chicken in 8 cups of water. (The bird may be served as white cut chicken at the same meal.) The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.