
Saliva Rooster, often known 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.
I first ordered this dish at a small Sichuan restaurant the place it arrived chilly and neatly sliced with pink oil beneath. The rooster was tender and the sauce carried garlic and peppercorn in each chew. That have is one thing that’s truthfully exhausting to overlook and, after all, made me need to recreate it in my very own kitchen.
Now I make this dish by steaming the rooster with ginger, saving the broth, and mixing a sauce with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame paste, and chili oil. I slice the rooster and coat it with the sauce proper earlier than serving. It’s undoubtedly a dish I put together after I need one thing easy that I could make forward for my household. You probably have tried the dish earlier than and need to replicate that wealthy taste at house, you might have come to the proper place. Simply observe my instructions and ideas under.


Substances
I group my substances by how I construct the dish, beginning with the rooster, then the sauce, and ending with garnish for texture. To take advantage of genuine tasting mouthwatering rooster, it’s necessary to make use of prime quality substances from Chinese language manufacturers. The freshness of Sichuan peppercorns and chili oil matter essentially the most.


Rooster: I exploit bone in rooster legs as a result of they keep juicy throughout steaming and create a clear tasting broth. If you happen to favor rooster breast, I like to recommend sourcing bone-in pores and skin on breast that’s on the smaller finish, and scale back the cooking time to maintain the rooster tender. I add ginger and Shaoxing wine to construct a earthy umami taste.
Sauce: I combine soy sauce, vinegar, sesame paste, and sesame oil to create the bottom. I add garlic, ginger, scallion, and Sichuan peppercorn to construct aroma and that numbing high quality.
End and garnish: I pour my do-it-yourself chili oil over the rooster for coloration and richness. If you happen to select the right Chinese language chili pepper flakes, the recipe makes an fragrant oil that’s much less spicy and extra flavorful. I add peanuts and scallion for a pleasant texture too.
If you happen to use a store-bought chili oil, ensure to make use of the Chinese language sort that has chili flakes in it. I extremely suggest the chili crisp oil from The Mala Market.
Find out how to Make
1. Put together the rooster: Organize the rooster on a plate and place ginger beneath. Pour Shaoxing wine over the rooster and sprinkle with salt.


2. Steam the rooster: Carry water to a boil and place the plate in a steamer. Steam till the rooster is cooked via and the juices run clear. Take away and let it cool, then reserve the cooking liquid.


3. Make the sauce: Mix soy sauce, vinegar, sesame paste, sesame oil, sugar, scallion, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorn in a bowl. Stir till clean. Add a number of the reserved broth to loosen the sauce and blend effectively.


4. Add chili flake residue: Add chili flake residue from the chili oil into the sauce and stir to mix.


5. Slice the rooster: As soon as the rooster has cooled, take away the bones and slice it into chew sized items. Switch the rooster into the sauce.


6. Add the rooster to the sauce: Switch the sliced rooster into the sauce.


6. End and serve: Pour chili oil over the rooster and garnish with peanuts and scallion. Serve at room temperature and blend earlier than consuming.


Tricks to Take into account When Making this Recipe
Use bone in rooster for higher texture: I favor bone in rooster legs as a result of they keep juicier throughout steaming. I additionally get a extra flavorful broth, which helps the sauce come collectively. It’s potential to make use of rooster breast, however I’d use prime quality breast on the smaller facet, and I extremely suggest the bone-in skin-on sort. I’d steam it for 20 to 25 minutes, till the breast is simply cooked via.
Don’t overcook the rooster: I take away the rooster as quickly as it’s cooked via. This retains the meat tender and prevents it from turning dry as soon as it cools. Chinese language restaurant typically use an entire rooster, and soak the cooked rooster in ice water to tighten the pores and skin. I discovered the step much less efficient when utilizing items items, so I skipped it.
Stir the sesame paste effectively: I ensure the sesame paste is absolutely blended earlier than including it to the dish. This retains the sauce clean and helps it coat the rooster effectively.
Use the chili oil residue: I by no means skip the chili flake residue as a result of it provides texture and additional aroma. It additionally provides the completed dish the look I need after I serve it.
Let the dish sit earlier than serving: I wish to let the rooster sit within the sauce for a couple of minutes earlier than I carry it to the desk. This provides the meat time to soak up extra taste.
How I like to Serve
I normally serve this dish as a starter after I cook dinner a Sichuan type meal for my household. I wish to set it out with steamed rice and some lighter dishes reminiscent of my spicy cucumber salad, my favourite Bok choy with oyster sauce, or my simple 4 ingredient child Bok choy stir fry so the rooster and sauce stand out. These easy sides pair effectively with the pink oil sauce with out taking consideration away from it.
I additionally like serving it for gatherings as a result of I could make it forward and produce it to the desk with none final minute cooking. The opposite day I serve it with heat bowl of Chinese language egg drop soup and naturally an Genuine scorching and bitter soup. My household additionally likes spooning a number of the additional sauce over rice, which is all the time a great way to complete the plate.


Incessantly Ask Questions
How spicy is that this dish?
I discover this dish has a robust aroma and a gentle warmth, however I can simply regulate it. I exploit much less chili oil for a milder model if much less warmth is most well-liked, or add extra if I desire a stronger end.
How do I retailer leftovers?
I retailer the leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge and eat them inside 2 days. If I need to freeze it, remember that the sesame based mostly sauce and chili oil can separate after thawing. Earlier than serving once more, I thaw it within the fridge, heat up the dish a bit in a steamer to carry again the feel earlier than serving.
Which lower of rooster do you have to use?
Genuine saliva rooster normally makes use of an entire rooster that’s chopped after cooking and served bone in and pores and skin on. I exploit bone in, pores and skin on thighs as a result of they’re extra sensible and keep juicier, then I take away the bone and slice the meat earlier than serving. If I exploit rooster breast, I select smaller items and cease steaming as quickly as the inner temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C so the meat stays tender.
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My mouthwatering Sichuan rooster in pink oil sauce is a relaxing appetizer made with tender rooster, chili oil, and Sichuan peppercorn. I exploit garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar to construct a savory and fragrant Chinese language dish that I can put together in 45 minutes and serve to my family members anytime.
Forestall your display from going darkish
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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 facet of the rooster. Then place the rooster onto the ready plate, pores and skin facet 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 lined over medium-high warmth till the rooster is simply cooked via, half-hour or so. You’ll be able to take a look at 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 just plan to serve the rooster. Combine effectively 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 effectively.
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When the rooster is cooled, switch the rooster onto a reducing 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 substances.
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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.
Ingredient Substitution Information
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
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