Suzhou Braised Chicken Recipes

CREAMY BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or large kettle, bring 6 cups water to a boil. Add pearl onions; boil for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water; peel and set aside. In the same pan, saute sliced onion, carrot and celery in 1 tablespoon butter until tender. Remove vegetables; set aside., Add chicken to pan; brown on both sides. Remove and keep warm. Add wine; simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup. Stir in broth and seasonings. Return chicken to pan; cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. , Combine flour and milk until smooth; gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Return vegetables to pan. Remove from the heat; cover and set aside., In a nonstick skillet, saute pearl onions in remaining butter until tender. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, saute mushrooms until tender. Add the onions and mushrooms to serving platter. Discard bay leaf from sauce; spoon over chicken and vegetables.

SZECHUAN BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare vegetables, of your own choice, i.e. bok choy, bean sprouts, capsicum, onion, broccoli, asparagus, Chinese leaf, baby corn--a mixture is great. Add the chili, crushed, place to one side.
• Blanche asparagus and broccoli for 2 minutes then add to the other vegetables with the garlic and ginger.
• Toast Szechwan peppercorns in a small dry pan until fragrant, crush and add to the chicken with the five spice powder and enough oil to just coat. Marinade for half an hour,.
• In a cup place the stock, Soya sauce, sesame oil, vinegar and sherry, mixing the corn flour with enough water to mix when adding to the sauce.
• Heat wok and add half of the oil. Stir fry the vegetables and place in warm oven. Add remainder of the oil to wok and quickly stir fry the meat for just a minute or two; add the liquid and stir until it thickens.
• Toss the vegetables in and quickly stir.
• Serve separately with noodles of your choice.

SUZHOU BRAISED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Peel the sweet potato and roll-cut diagonally into 1 1/2 inch slices.
• Heat the oil in a wok or deep frypan to 375F or until a piece of scallion green or ginger sizzles noisily and browns quickly when tossed into the oil. Add the chicken and deep-fry for 2 min til golden brown. Remove the chicken to a sauce pan and add the rice wine and salt. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add the soy sauce, sugar, sweet potato and stock and continue simmering, until the chicken is tender.
• If too much liquid is left in the saucepan, reduce by boiling rapidly. Stir the dissolved cornstarch and add to the saucepan. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Sprinkle with the sesame oil, and serve.