How to Boil Chicken with a Delicious, Fragrant Taste Using Shallots and Ginger

Steps to prepare:

Step 1: Prepare a fresh or frozen chicken. After cleaning and washing the chicken, allow it to drain. Next, wash the shallots and ginger, then chop the shallots finely.

Step 2: Place the chicken in a pot, then rub cooking wine evenly over the entire chicken. Stuff some finely chopped shallots and julienned ginger into the chicken's cavity. Sprinkle more chopped shallots and ginger on the outside of the chicken, and let it marinate for about 30 minutes to eliminate the fishy smell and let the chicken absorb the seasoning.

Step 3: Boil water in the pot until it starts to simmer. Add the chicken and blanch it for about 10 seconds, then quickly remove it. Repeat this process three times to help the chicken firm up.

Step 4: After the third blanching, leave the chicken in the pot, add shallots, ginger, salt, cooking wine, and a few gardenia fruits to give the chicken a golden color. Simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the chicken steep in the pot for another 15 minutes. Use chopsticks to check; if there is no red liquid coming out, the chicken is done.

Step 5: Once the chicken is cooked, remove it and immediately soak it in a bowl of ice water for 3 minutes. The change in temperature will help the skin become tight and enhance the flavor. After the chicken cools, remove it, drain, cut it into small pieces, and serve with dipping sauce.

To make the chicken even more delicious, you can follow these additional tips:

Choose Fresh Chicken: Opt for free-range or backyard chicken for firm, sweet meat that is not too soft. The chicken should still be fresh, with no foul odor or signs of spoilage.

Marinate the Chicken Before Boiling: Before boiling, rub some salt and crushed ginger onto the surface of the chicken and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. This helps eliminate the fishy smell and makes the chicken tastier.

Boil Chicken with Cold Water: Place the chicken in the pot and add cold water, making sure the water covers the chicken completely, then turn on the heat. Using cold water helps cook the chicken evenly from the outside in.

Don’t Cover the Lid Completely: Once the water begins to boil, lower the heat and let the water simmer gently. Avoid covering the pot completely to allow steam to escape, which helps prevent the chicken from becoming tough.

Add Seasoning to the Boiling Water: To make the chicken more fragrant and remove the fishy smell, you can add a few slices of ginger, shallots, and a pinch of salt to the boiling water.

Watch the Boiling Time: The boiling time depends on the size of the chicken, usually between 30-40 minutes. You can check the chicken’s doneness by poking a chopstick into the thigh; if no red liquid flows out, the chicken is cooked.

Soak the Chicken in Cold Water After Boiling: Once the chicken is cooked, immediately immerse it in cold water for a few minutes. This helps the chicken skin become crispy, the meat firm, and prevents it from drying out.

By applying these tips, you will have a fragrant, tender, non-fishy boiled chicken that is incredibly delicious and appealing.