Expertise the genuine flavors of Sichuan delicacies with this mouth-watering recipe for saliva rooster. The dish options tender juicy rooster smothered in a wealthy and spicy sauce that’s bursting with umami, identical to the one served in China.
What’s saliva rooster
Saliva Hen, referred to as “口水鸡” (Kou Shui Ji) in Chinese language, is a well-liked dish in Sichuan delicacies. The literal translation of its title may sound uncommon to non-Chinese language audio system. However in truth, the Chinese language dish title means “mouth-watering rooster”, which is a extra correct title for this well-known dish.
Saliva rooster is extremely regarded for its taste and complexity. The dish is usually made by poaching rooster, often an entire rooster or rooster thighs. The rooster is then cooled and reduce into bite-sized items, then drenched in a spicy, numbing, and flavorful sauce that’s savory and filled with umami. The sauce wakes up your senses and makes you crave for extra. In case you’ve tried the dish earlier than and wish to replicate that ultra-rich taste at dwelling, you’ve come to the fitting place!
Elements for saliva rooster
Chili oil (辣椒油)
The important thing ingredient within the dish is chili oil, which provides the dish its vibrant purple coloration and spicy style.
If attainable, I extremely advocate making chili oil at dwelling. The selfmade model is far more aromatic, contemporary, and bursting with taste. Don’t fear about it making your dish too spicy. In case you select the right Chinese language chili pepper flakes, the recipe makes an fragrant oil that’s much less spicy and extra flavorful.
If you do not need to make chili oil at dwelling, positively take a look at the chili crisp oil by the Mala Market. Their chili oils are made in Sichuan in small batches and are very contemporary. It’s going to give your saliva rooster that genuine style you’re searching for.
Sichuan peppercorns (花椒)
Sichuan peppercorn (the purple sort) is one other key ingredient generally utilized in Sichuan delicacies. It doesn’t style spicy and has a citrusy style with a numbing tingling sensation whenever you chew on it. It’s the key to including aroma to your dish that no different ingredient can exchange.
You should buy Sichuan peppercorns at Asian grocery shops, however I extremely advocate these premium contemporary ones from The Mala Market.
Genuine saliva rooster usually makes use of a small contact of inexperienced Sichuan peppercorn oil for one more layer of taste. Just like the purple Sichuan peppercorns, the inexperienced peppercorns additionally offer you a numbing sensation with a grassy undertone. I really like the Inexperienced Peppercorn Oil by 50 Hertz. However be at liberty to skip this in the event you don’t have it readily available.
Chinese language sesame paste (芝麻酱)
Chinese language sesame paste offers the sauce its creamy texture and a nutty style. Totally different from tahini, Chinese language sesame paste makes use of roasted white sesame seeds for a hotter style and a darker coloration. Whenever you buy sesame paste, attempt to discover the kind that makes use of 100% sesame seeds. It tastes higher than those utilizing each sesame seeds and peanuts.
In case you do not need this ingredient, one of the best various is unsalted pure peanut butter.
Different necessary elements
The opposite necessary elements embody:
- Shaoxing wine – so as to add aroma to the rooster
- Contemporary ginger – provides perfume and tenderizes the rooster
- Gentle soy sauce – provides umami
- Chinkiang vinegar (additionally known as black vinegar) – provides a tangy style with fermented umami
- Peanuts – Add a crunchy texture
Which reduce of rooster must you use?
Genuine saliva rooster often makes use of an entire rooster and calls so that you can chop it up as soon as it’s cooked and serve it with the bone in and pores and skin on. I go for bone-in, skin-on thighs to make the recipe extra sensible for dwelling cooks. I take away the bone as soon as the rooster is cooked, then slice it into skinny items. If you don’t like rooster pores and skin, it’s also possible to use boneless, skinless cuts.
I often don’t use rooster breast for this dish, which makes the outcome much less juicy. However in the event you choose rooster breast, attempt to discover smaller items if attainable. When steaming the rooster, test the temperature after 20 minutes. Cease cooking as quickly as the inner temperature reaches 165°F (74˚C). It’s crucial to not overcook the rooster to maintain it very tender.
Learn how to prepare dinner saliva rooster
Making saliva rooster is kind of straightforward.
- Rub the rooster with Shaoxing wine and place ginger slices on it.
- Steam the rooster till simply cooked by.
- Reserve the juice the rooster launched, for making the sauce later.
- Dissolve the sesame paste with the opposite sauces and aromatics right into a easy paste.
- Add the chili flakes from the chili oil.
- Debone the rooster and slice it as soon as cooled.
- Add the rooster into the sauce and pour the chili oil over the rooster.
- High with chopped peanuts and revel in!
Saliva rooster is a good dish to arrange forward of time and serve later. When the rooster sits within the sauce, it absorbs the flavour and can turn out to be even tastier after a number of hours. In case you choose the intense purple look, you’ll be able to drizzle the chili oil proper earlier than serving.
Learn how to serve saliva rooster
Saliva rooster is a chilly appetizer dish in Sichuan delicacies. In eating places, it’s at all times served in the beginning of a meal. When serving at dwelling, you’ll be able to serve it with some mains, sides and a soup. I typically additionally serve it as a primary dish. The sauce is tremendous wealthy and tastes nice both paired with rice or noodles. In a restaurant setting, the leftover sauce is tossed away. At dwelling, I might dip some noodles into it and make a satisfying meal!
When serving saliva rooster, be certain that to pair much less spicy / non-spicy meals alongside it, to steadiness the meal and clear your palette.
For a full-on Sichuan dinner, listed here are some dishes that go nicely collectively:
Different scrumptious rooster recipes
Sichuan Hen in Pink Oil Sauce (口水鸡, Saliva Hen)
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Elements
Hen
- 2 (1 to 1.5 lbs / 450 to 680g) bone-in skin-on rooster legs (*Footnote 1)
- 1 thumb ginger , sliced
- 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
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Put together a plate massive sufficient to suit the rooster and sufficiently small to suit into your steamer basket. Evenly unfold the ginger slices evenly onto the meat aspect of the rooster. Then place the rooster onto the ready plate, pores and skin aspect up. Pour the Shaoxing wine over the rooster and sprinkle evenly with the salt.
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Put together the steamer by heating 2” (5 cm) water within the pot to a boil. Then place the plate with the rooster onto the steamer basket, and place the basket onto the steamer. Steam coated over medium-high warmth till the rooster is simply cooked by, half-hour or so. You may check the doneness by inserting a knife into the thickest half and checking whether or not the juice runs clear. If it’s clear, the rooster is cooked. Switch the plate onto your kitchen counter to let the rooster cool off. Reserve the juice from cooking the rooster.
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Combine the sunshine soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, sesame paste, sesame oil, sugar, white a part of the inexperienced onion, garlic, ginger and floor Sichuan peppercorn in a medium bowl that you simply plan to serve the rooster. Combine nicely till the sesame paste is evenly distributed. Add 3 tablespoons of the broth from cooking the rooster, and 1 tablespoon of the chili flake residue from the chili oil. Stir to combine nicely.
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When the rooster is cooled, switch the rooster onto a slicing board. Take away the bones utilizing a paring knife, then slice rooster into 1/2” (1-cm) items. Switch rooster into the bowl with the sauce elements.
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Pour the chili oil over the rooster, and garnish with peanuts and inexperienced onion. Serve at room temperature as an appetizer. Stir gently to combine the rooster with the sauce and the chili oil when consuming.
Video
Diet
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 290kcal, Carbohydrates: 19.4g, Protein: 12g, Fats: 19.7g, Saturated Fats: 3.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 400mg, Potassium: 312mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 2g, Calcium: 97mg, Iron: 2mg
