This straightforward and genuine Three Cup Rooster (San Bei Ji) recipe is a Taiwanese traditional made with soy sauce, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine. Juicy, flavorful, and prepared in simply 20 minutes, it’s the proper home-style dish for weeknight dinners or weekend consolation meals.

Genuine San Bei Ji Recipe

Three Cup Rooster, or San Bei Ji (三杯鸡), is among the most traditional Taiwanese dishes. It’s a must-order for me each time I go to a Taiwanese restaurant. I simply can’t resist its daring and comforting flavors. What I like about Taiwanese recipes is how easy and homey they’re. They’re humble dishes filled with taste, and better of all, they’re straightforward to recreate at residence. One other favourite of mine is Taiwanese Salt and Pepper Rooster. It’s so addictive.

Taiwanese delicacies has its roots in Chinese language meals, with distinctive native influences that make it particular. Most of the dishes remind me of Chinese language-Malaysian meals. Each cuisines share ties to Fujian province in China, as many early immigrants settled in Taiwan, Malaysia, or Singapore, bringing alongside their traditions and flavors.

For my model of Three Cup Rooster, I stick with the standard methodology however steadiness the sauce so it’s shiny, wealthy, and never overly candy. The combination of sesame oil, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine offers it that signature depth, whereas the contemporary basil provides a burst of aroma that makes the entire dish irresistible. It’s easy, genuine, and the proper dish to make once you’re craving actual Taiwanese consolation meals.

Why Is It Known as Three Cup Rooster

The identify “Three Cup Rooster” comes from the three key elements that give this dish its signature taste: sesame oil, soy sauce, and Chinese language rice wine. Historically, the recipe follows a easy 1:1:1 ratio, although most residence cooks alter it to style. The “cups” don’t actually imply one cup every since that might be approach an excessive amount of, however relatively confer with utilizing equal components of every ingredient, which makes the recipe straightforward to recollect and completely balanced.

What actually makes genuine Taiwanese San Bei Ji particular is the addition of contemporary Thai basil. It’s not only a garnish; it’s what brings the dish to life. The basil provides a aromatic, barely minty aroma that brightens the wealthy, savory sauce and ties every thing collectively fantastically.

You’ll additionally discover different “three cup” dishes in Taiwanese delicacies, like Three Cup Squid (三杯小卷), Three Cup Tofu, and Three Cup Mushrooms. Every makes use of the identical trio of seasonings for that shiny, caramelized taste Taiwan is cherished for.

Elements You’ll Want

• Rooster – You too can use boneless hen thighs and even hen breast in the event you want leaner meat, however shorten the cooking time so it doesn’t dry out.
• Sesame oil
• Soy sauce
• Darkish candy soy sauce (kecap manis) – When you don’t have kecap manis, combine soy sauce with a contact of brown sugar or honey to get an analogous impact.
• Shaoxing wine – Dry sherry can work in a pinch, however Shaoxing wine is your best option for an genuine style.
• Thai basil leaves – If Thai basil isn’t out there, common basil works too, however you’ll miss that signature anise-like taste.

Try the recipe card on the backside of this publish for all the main points on every ingredient.

Professional Tip #1: Why I Use Rooster Thighs And Drumsticks
I like utilizing hen thighs and drumsticks as a result of darkish meat stays juicy and flavorful even after simmering. The pores and skin caramelizes fantastically, providing you with that sticky, shiny end that makes this dish so satisfying.

Professional Tip #2: The Two Varieties Of Soy Sauce
A mixture of common soy sauce and darkish candy soy sauce (kecap manis) offers the most effective steadiness. Common soy sauce provides savory depth, whereas darkish candy soy sauce provides a caramelized sweetness and exquisite darkish coloration that makes the sauce cling to the hen.

Professional Tip #3: Why I Add Shaoxing Wine
Shaoxing wine is a key ingredient in genuine Taiwanese and Chinese language cooking. It offers Three Cup Rooster its signature aroma and deep, rounded taste that ties every thing collectively. It provides simply the suitable steadiness of richness and complexity to the sauce.

Professional Tip #4: Thai Basil Brings It All Collectively
Recent Thai basil is a should. It provides a aromatic, barely peppery end that cuts by means of the richness of the sauce. All the time stir it in proper earlier than serving so the aroma stays contemporary and vivid.

Procuring Information: Search for darkish candy soy sauce labeled “Kecap Manis” within the Asian aisle or at Asian grocery shops. Manufacturers like ABC or Bango are dependable. It normally is available in a tall bottle with a purple or yellow cap, and the sauce is thick, darkish, and syrupy.

Steadily Requested Questions

What To Serve With This Recipe

This dish is finest served as a foremost entree, with steamed rice. For a healthful meal and simple weeknight dinner, I like to recommend the next recipes.

I hope you get pleasure from this publish as a lot as I do. When you strive my recipe, please go away a remark and take into account giving it a 5-star ranking. For easier and scrumptious recipes, discover my Recipe Index, and keep up to date by subscribing to my e-newsletter and following me on Fb, Pinterest, and Instagram for brand spanking new updates.

Different Recipes You May Like