Delicious and Healthy Chinese Style Steamed Chicken Thigh Recipe

Looking for a simple and nutritious meal for your weekday dinners? Look no further than this steamed chicken thigh recipe Chinese style. It's a quick and easy dish that is bursting with delicious flavours to please your palate.

To make this dish, you will need some essential ingredients, such as chicken thighs, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine. You can also add seafood to this recipe to enhance its taste and nutritional value. Some good options include shrimp, scallops, or fish fillets.

Marinating the chicken is a crucial step in this recipe as it helps to infuse the meat with flavour and tenderize it. Once the chicken is marinated, you can steam it using a bamboo steamer or a metal steamer. This cooking method ensures that the chicken is cooked evenly and retains its moisture, resulting in a juicy and succulent texture. You can serve the steamed chicken with some delicious sauces and garnishes to add more depth to its flavour.

Key Takeaways

• Steamed chicken thigh recipe Chinese style is a healthy and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners.
• You can add seafood to this recipe to enhance its taste and nutritional value.
• Marinating the chicken and steaming it ensures that it is cooked evenly and retains its moisture, resulting in a juicy and succulent texture.

Essential Ingredients

To make a delicious Chinese steamed chicken thigh recipe, you need to have the right ingredients. Here are the essential ingredients you will need:

Selecting Chicken Thighs

When selecting chicken thighs for this recipe, choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. The bone will help keep the meat moist during steaming, and the skin will add flavour and texture to the dish. Make sure to choose fresh, high-quality chicken thighs from a reputable source.

Key Chinese Flavours

To give your steamed chicken thighs a traditional Chinese flavour, you will need to use some key ingredients. These include ginger, garlic, green onion, and scallions. These ingredients will add depth and complexity to the dish. You can also add shiitake mushrooms and goji berries for additional flavour.

Freshness of Herbs and Spices

Freshness is key when it comes to herbs and spices. Make sure to use fresh ginger, garlic, and green onion for the best flavour. You can also use Chinese sausage and seafood, such as shrimp or scallops, to add more depth and flavour to the dish.

Overall, these essential ingredients will help you create a delicious and authentic Chinese steamed chicken thigh recipe. Make sure to choose fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best results.

Marinating the Chicken

Marinating the chicken is an essential step in preparing a delicious steam chicken thigh recipe Chinese. A good marinade will enhance the flavour and tenderness of the chicken. Here are the steps to marinate the chicken:

Creating the Marinade

To create the perfect marinade for your chicken, you will need the following ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Sesame oil
• Salt
• Sugar
• Shaoxing wine
• Light soy sauce
• White pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and stir well until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved. You can adjust the amount of salt and sugar according to your taste preference. If you want to add a seafood flavour to your steam chicken thigh recipe Chinese, you can add some fish sauce or shrimp paste to the marinade.

Marinating Time

Once you have created the marinade, it's time to marinate the chicken. You can use boneless or bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe. Place the chicken in a large bowl or a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the chicken is coated evenly with the marinade. You can also add some sliced ginger and garlic to enhance the flavour.

Cover the bowl or seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours or overnight. The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavourful and tender it will become.

In summary, marinating the chicken is an essential step in preparing a delicious steam chicken thigh recipe Chinese. By creating a flavourful marinade and marinating the chicken for an adequate amount of time, you can ensure that your chicken is tender and full of flavour.

Steaming Process

Setting Up the Steamer

Before you start cooking, you need to set up the steamer. Fill the bottom of the steamer with water, making sure that the water level is below the steaming rack. Add a few slices of ginger and a tablespoon of cooking wine to the water to add flavour to the chicken.

Next, place the chicken thighs on the steaming rack. Make sure that they are evenly spaced out and not touching each other to ensure even cooking. Cover the steamer with a lid and turn the heat to medium. Allow the chicken to steam for about 20-25 minutes, depending on the size of the thighs.

Steaming to Perfection

To achieve the perfect texture, it is important to steam the chicken at the right temperature and for the right amount of time. Steaming the chicken at medium heat allows it to cook evenly and retain its moisture. Overcooking the chicken can result in dry and tough meat, while undercooking can lead to raw chicken.

Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the steamer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and the chicken to become more tender.

If you want to add a seafood twist to your steamed chicken, consider adding some shrimp or scallops to the steaming rack. The seafood will cook in the same amount of time as the chicken and will add a delicious flavour to the dish.

Sauces and Garnishes

Preparing Dipping Sauce

When it comes to serving Chinese steamed chicken, the dipping sauce is just as important as the chicken itself. A simple dipping sauce can be made by mixing soy sauce, garlic oil, and sesame oil together. You may also add some chopped green onions to enhance the flavor of the sauce.

If you prefer a spicier dipping sauce, you can add some chopped red chillies or a few drops of hot sauce to the mix. For a sweeter dipping sauce, you can add some honey or brown sugar.

Seafood lovers may want to try adding some seafood to their dipping sauce. Shrimp, scallops, and crab meat can be excellent additions to a soy sauce-based dipping sauce. You can also use oyster sauce as a base for your dipping sauce if you prefer a more savory flavor.

Garnishing for Aesthetics and Taste

Garnishing your Chinese steamed chicken can not only make it look more appetizing but can also enhance its flavor. Some common garnishes include chopped green onions, cilantro, and sliced red chillies. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds or drizzle some garlic oil over the chicken for added flavor.

If you want to take your garnishing to the next level, you can also add some sliced cucumber or carrot to the plate. These vegetables not only add color but also provide a refreshing contrast to the rich flavor of the chicken.

Seafood can also be used as a garnish for your Chinese steamed chicken. Shrimp, scallops, and crab meat can be used to top the chicken or placed around the plate for added visual appeal.

Serving Suggestions

Accompaniments

When it comes to serving Chinese steamed chicken thigh, you have a variety of options to choose from. Steamed rice is a classic accompaniment that pairs well with the dish. You can use any type of steamed rice, but jasmine rice is recommended for its delicate flavour.

If you want to add some variety to your meal, you can serve the steamed chicken with some seafood. Shrimp or prawns are a great option that complements the flavours of the chicken well. You can add them to the steamer along with the chicken to cook them at the same time.

Vegetables are also a great addition to the dish. Bok choy, broccoli, and carrots are some options that work well. Simply steam them alongside the chicken and rice.

Presentation Tips

To make your Chinese steamed chicken thigh look more impressive, you can garnish it with some sliced scallions or cilantro. This not only adds some colour to the dish but also enhances its flavour.

If you want to take it up a notch, you can serve the chicken in a bamboo steamer basket. This not only looks great but also keeps the chicken warm and moist.

In Cantonese cuisine, the chicken is often served with a dipping sauce made with soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger. You can use this or any other dipping sauce of your choice to add some extra flavour to the dish.

In Guangdong and other parts of southern China, the chicken is often served with a side of pickled vegetables. This is a great way to add some tanginess to the meal and cut through the richness of the chicken.

Overall, there are many ways to serve and present Chinese steamed chicken thigh. With a little creativity, you can turn a simple dish into a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the secret to a tender Cantonese steamed chicken?

The secret to tender Cantonese steamed chicken is to marinate the chicken before steaming. A marinade of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and Shaoxing wine can help to tenderize the chicken and infuse it with flavour. Additionally, steaming the chicken at a low temperature for a longer period can help to keep the meat tender and juicy.

How long should I steam chicken thighs for optimal tenderness?

To achieve optimal tenderness, steam chicken thighs for about 20-25 minutes. The exact time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken thighs. Be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken using a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 75°C.

Can I add ginger sauce to my steamed chicken after cooking?

Yes, you can add ginger sauce to your steamed chicken after cooking. Simply mix together grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar to make a tasty sauce. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken just before serving.

What marinade works best for Chinese-style steamed chicken?

A marinade of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and Shaoxing wine works best for Chinese-style steamed chicken. You can also add other ingredients such as oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or Chinese five-spice powder to enhance the flavour.

What are some simple steps to steam chicken thighs Chinese style?

To steam chicken thighs Chinese-style, first marinate them in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and Shaoxing wine. Then, place the chicken in a steamer basket and steam for 20-25 minutes. Once cooked, drizzle ginger sauce over the chicken and serve with steamed rice and vegetables.

How can I ensure my steamed chicken doesn't turn out dry?

To ensure your steamed chicken doesn't turn out dry, marinate it before steaming and cook it at a low temperature for a longer period. You can also add a small amount of chicken broth or water to the steamer to create steam and keep the chicken moist. If you want to add seafood to the recipe, you can use prawns or scallops to complement the chicken. Simply add them to the steamer basket along with the chicken and cook for the same amount of time.