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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Chinese white cut chicken 白切雞 (Pak Cham Gai)


I remember a reader asked me how i poach a white cut chicken (Pak Cham Gai) last time..I have recorded down the detail steps and would like share with you here. I suppose every Chinese family also know how to poach a nice white cut chicken with their own method. This is the method taught by my mother. My mother method is simple and yet still resulted a nice tendered white cut chicken



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I suggest not to use the real ayam kampung (free range chicken) , because less meat and meat is tough. Usually i use those half free range chicken (i don't know how to describe this in English name actually, hehehe), usually we call this type of chicken as "Chow Gai" or "Holland Gai"..I hope you understand what i meant.^_^
Ya, i have one extra step is after chicken is done, i brush salt on the body of chicken, so it taste like salted chicken, yummy!

Chinese white cut chicken 白切雞
(recipe source: by Sonia aka Nasi Lemak Lover)

1.6kg free-range chicken

Few slices of ginger
2 sprig of spring onions

1tsp salt (i use fine sea salt)
1 and 1/2tsp sesame oil

Method

1. Stuff ginger and spring onion inside the cavity of chicken.

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2. Boil a large pot of water over high heat ( use a pot that large enough to fit a whole chicken).

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3. Slowly place the chicken (breast side down ) into boiling water, boiling water become simmer.

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4. Once water boil again, reduce heat to the lowest.

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5. Cover the lid and let chicken simmer in hot water. While cooking half way (about 10mins), flip the chicken breast side up, cover and continue simmer.

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 6. Cook for 16mins (depend the size of chicken or when you see chicken become light and float on top).

7. Switch off the fire, cover the lid and let chicken continue to simmer in hot water for another 10mins.

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8. Mix salt and sesame oil in a mixing bowl. Remove chicken from hot water, use a brush to evenly brush salt mixture on the whole body of chicken.

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9. Let it cool in room temperature for several hours (5-6 hours) before chop into small pieces.

I consider myself still not chop a perfect white cut chicken, but these are how i usually chop the chicken.

1. first cut out the two chicken wings

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2. Cut out the thigh and drumsticks

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2. Tear out the chicken breast (all meat)

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4. Chop the chicken into bite size pieces and arrange back like a chicken look ^_^

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Beside just serving white cut chicken as a main dish, sometime i prepare into Hainanese chicken rice or like today i cook into Kuoy Teow noodles soup..

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66 comments:

Rachel Hei said...

yummy~~I love 白切鸡.
I haven got a chance to poach whole chicken yet because we cant finish it.. :P normally i'll choose just 2-3 drumsticks if i cook this dish. :)

June said...

salivating this is my fav !! i can just eat the chicken without anything else :P

Diane said...

I often poach a whole chicken, I have a great recipe but I will give yours a try, it will be nice to make a change. It is one of my favourite ways of cooking a chicken and I can remove any fat easily. Enjoy your day, Diane

Joceline Lor said...

一开电脑就让我看到这个白斩鸡。。。。。。
真是肚子在打鼓不停呢!很想吃哦!

eileenlml.blogspot.com said...

joceline called me while she left a message here and we start to gossip abt u, hahahaha!

here are some contents : 'aiyo, this sonia why everyday so rajin, her brain must be very good, can 变so many type of dishes everyday, photos also sui sui, really pandai'. Hahahaha, lovely comment right?

Mel said...

My whole family and I loves "Pak Cham Kai" ~ well we are hainanese that's why! Sometimes we thought making this chicken is easy, but there's a way to cook till it is full cooked till no blood visible after cut. You done so well in cooking this dish as well as cutting it to pieces. So much to learn from you.

Veronica said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Veronica said...

Your chicken look so tender and moist and the colour is very beautiful too. And I totally agree with EileenLee - you are so diligent and creative in the kitchen. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing the step by step method of poaching a chicken.

Amie said...

Look beautiful! tq for sharing.... senang nak ikut, step by step!

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

wow wht a mouth-water chicken recipe u got therer..looks so juicy and soft:)

Debs @ The Spanish Wok said...

Oh I so want to come to your home where I would gladly let you cook up a banquest of delicious dishes for me including this one.

Unknown said...

Something simple and yet need skills to prepare. Thanks for all the step by step photos. I hope somebody is taking those photos for you.

Dumpling Love said...

I want to go to your place for dinner!!!! haha. That looks so good, Sonia! Thanks for sharing! Definitely will try it one day!

Jessie-CookingMoments said...

Love your version Of the poached chicken!This just reminds me of my mum's chicken,hahaha!

Baby Sumo said...

I love to eat "pak cham kai" too... my mum makes a special sauce whenever she cooks this. YUMS.

Jes's Deli Corner said...

So glad that you sharing the steps. I used kg chicken no wonder looks different from chicken rice shop..hehe. I always buy kg chicken doesnt know others type of chicken..thanks for mentioned holland kai hehe..will try it out. Btw can i cook the chicken in the soup base with ingredient like cabbage or some red dates?

shan said...

很仔细的做法!

我只会吃不会做。(*^__^*)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

The Other day when my family and I were dining at this chicken rice restaurant, my hubby and I were concluding that home made taste better! Some ppl like to steam while like u, I like mine poached, but I do add a lot of extra like garlic, green onion and pandan leaves in the poaching water. Love that succulent looking tender chicken meat you made, yums! Great idea to serve it with kwey diao after. :))

Ana Regalado said...

Another fantastic and delicious dish , Sonia ! You cooked that chicken like a pro ! ;D

Li Shuan said...

when I visited ur blog just now I was about to have my dinner, and...suddenly felt very very hungry. Wanted to eat ur poached chicken instead of my pizza.

Fern @ To Food With Love said...

Look so yummy, especially the kuay teow soup! How did you make the chicken skin so yellow in colour?

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Jes, I suggest not to add cabbage and red dates first, once chicken removed, you can continue to cook and add these ingredients. Like the kuoy teow soup i prepared , I add yam bean, chicken carcass , chicken feet and an onion after removed the chicken.

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Fern, I think partly due to I added the sesame oil and the skin turn darker and look yellow after several hours in room temperature.

Jes's Deli Corner said...

Thks Sonia

鲸鱼蓝蓝蓝 said...

我很喜欢白切鸡
但是我不会把它切到美美的:(

kitchen flavours said...

Looks so delicious! I love pak cham kai. And I do not really like kampung chicken either! :)

Gloria Baker said...

Look nice! Sometimes is not easy find a whole chicken look delicious!!

Puan Ros @ Sinaranmenu.blogspot said...

Sonia kak Ros suka.This malay kakak memang punya selera cina lol...ayam ni susah nak dapat yang halal.kak Ros pasti nak cuba. harap2 my lokong(betul ke ejaan tu??) suka dan senyum sampai ke telinga bila kak ros masak ni.

Wak Danny said...

saya suka. saya suka... slruup!

Little Corner of Mine said...

Look so delicious! But I can't cook this because my husband doesn't like 白切鸡!

WendyinKK said...

Thanks for the tips,
We call that type of chicken u mentioned as Wu Sou Gai
I can't chop a chicken properly, usually don't loook much like chicken after that.
Eh, if u made the rice into balls, just nice for Melaka Food Fest ler...

Amelia said...

Hi Sonia, your pak cham kai look delicious. Love the silky skin, yum yum... Thanks for sharing the tips, usually I steam instead of poach.

Nice to dip in coriander leaves sauce.
1 bunch of fresh coriander leaves chopped. Fried shallot until golden brown, lower the fire, add oyster sauce, little water,sugar, salt, black sauce, sesame oil to taste. Add in the coriander leaves, mixed well and remove from stove. It taste excellent with this chicken. Enjoy.

Have a nice day.

PH said...

This is my favorite "pek cham kay" and everytime eat at chicken rice shop I prefer this chicken. Will try your method. My big problem is I don't know how to chop chicken nicely :)

Somewhere in Singapore said...

I never try making a whole chicken before...

Unknown said...

白切鸡是我的最爱,不过迟到了应该被人吃完了。。。呵呵呵!

刀法很好,把鸡肉都斩的很均匀。

Unknown said...

Sonia, love the tips about the "pak cham kai". Sesame and salt mixture can make the skin turn our nicely. thanks for sharing.

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Amelia, Thank you for sharing your special coriander sauce recipe, sound so yummy!

Happy Homebaker said...

Hi Sonia, thanks so much for sharing your step by step instructions with illustrations! This is great for someone who has no one to learn cooking skills from, I have never tried poaching a whole chicken as I dont know how to chop the chicken ;) but with your clear instructions, I will love to give it a try, but for a start I may use a kitchen scissors ;) or bring the whole chicken to my sis place to ask her to chop for me!

Angelic Heart~ said...

the chicken meat look very tender,and the color is nice~ thanks for sharing!

Joelyn said...

Sonia, thanks for the details step by step pictures ;)

Sally said...

很喜欢你的步骤图分享,很详细。。
你的刀功很棒叻,大小一致,
不像我每次都砍到有大有小。
下次我可否邀请你帮我砍鸡?哈哈哈。。

kym said...

wow.. hungry lioa...

ibundo said...

The last time i made hainanese chicken rice, I boiled the chicken like you did but brushed it with light soya sauce mixed with all spice and steamed the chicken for another 20 minutes. But i used the ordinary chicken, the one that we simply get from the market.
Next time, i'll follow your style.
thanks.

Elaine said...

Good morning,
Thanks for sharing your recipe. Looks moist and tender. I don't know whether it helps or not- for our family, after removing from heat, we put the whole chicken in some ice water for a while - to stop the cooking.

Cass @ 揾到食 said...

I love this 白斩鸡!
This is a "Must Eat" dish when i go back kampong. My mum also like to use "Holland Kai", yummy :)

Yannie said...

Sonia, your kids, your husband and your family are so blessed to have you. I love all those food on the table, especially the noodle soup.

Little blue said...

Yummy and made mouth-watering~

Jade said...

Love your recipe "pak cham gai", will try that. :) Can you pls share also how to make the chilli sauce for this "pak cham gai"?? Thanks.

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Jade, my chili sauce is very simple, blend fresh chili,chili padi(if want hot), (garlic and young ginger-not too much), limau kasturi rind and juices, seasonings with salt and sugar, add little bit chicken stock, and let it warm in the rice cooker.

Shu Han said...

the way I know is to dunk the chicken in cold water right after it's done to stop the cooking! this chicken looks nice and tender, I love chicken rice!!

ann low said...

I also love 白切鸡! When I poached the chicken, I like to add one onion and one stick English celery in the water.

Sissi said...

You have no idea how practical this post is for me! This is the way I should have cooked chicken for my Bang Bang Chicken (I think the cookery book I took it from advises the same method and ingredients).
Your chicken looks tender and juicy... Thanks for sharing this great tutorial.

lena said...

my mum also poached the chicken like your method, sometimes i follow but sometimes so lazy just steam it right away. Most of the time we use wu soh kai.

Martin said...

原來白斬雞是這麼做的!那一碗湯麵也好誘人喔:)

Casey said...

这个白切鸡是我老公的最爱,配上我妈自制的生姜叶黑酱油,很下饭。

Small Kucing said...

Thanks a million Sonia. no wonder my pak cham gai never really successful. I used kampung chic. meat tough :(

My Little Space said...

Yes, Sonia, I agreed with u for not using the kampung chicken in making white cut chicken....less meat & the meat also too springy. some even very elastic till the false teeth also came out! haha.... Thanks for sharing the tips & enjoy your weekend, momsie.
Good night.
Kristy

Alice said...

oh yum! my family surely loves this Sonia :)

daphne said...

because it is only hubby and myself, i often do the shortcut way and just use pieces of chicken. You reminded me how juicy a WHOLE chicken will taste like!

Anonymous said...

oh my Sonia!! You make it just like a pro!! Is this how they make Hainanese Chicken Rice in the hawker centres? I never knew they used such simple ingredients!! I love it!

KLFoodBlog said...

Love roasted chicken, great recipe!

Stephanie said...

Hi Sonia, I was one of the readers that asked for this recipe of yours when you prepared it for CNY reunion meal. Thanks so much for the recipe. I will definitely try it out once I get a hold on to a pot that's big enough to fit a whole chicken XD
The chicken you prepared looked absolutely lovely..

绮绮的幸福国度 said...

That's a such simple recipe with a clear picture ! Will try this recipe .

Anonymous said...

For really moist flesh chicken with very slightly pinkish flesh to the bone, place the chicken in a large pot of boiling water, previously boiled together with some ginger and sea salt. Ensure chicken is completely covered in the water. Simmer for 3 minutes. Then switched off heat, and let chicken soaked in the pot for about 40 - 60 mins depending on chicken size (approx 1.2 - 1.7kg). After cooking time is completed, remove chicken and plunge it into cold ice water. This will gel up the collagen in the flesh and produce a really tender "pak chum kai" with moist flesh even in the breast portion.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sonia, Love to see all of your healthy recipes collection. Im wondering on how to cook one of tofu dish appeared on the picture above. Could you please share the recipe? Thank you (Ivlia)

ukbulldog said...

High Steam the Chicken and let all the fat and bits fall into the water later used as your stock. High steam in any steamer be it bamboo or metal. Make sure you fill the cavity with your favourite seasoning or the traditional once. Steaming the chicken makes the chicken less soggy and the just correct. You can keep the chicken once steamed and hang in a cool place overnight or fridge standing upwards. Use a soup can and place the cavity on top. When ready to eat, re-steam the chicken once more. Serve with usual green + soup and small rice. Chop up and remove as much bone as possible (need practice) and serve the chicken over a warmer(a must) with light soy and dash of sesame oil.I am Indian Malaysian and learnt how to do this chicken when friends come over. ENJOY

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