Dish of Braised Silkie Chicken
(click to enlarge)

Silkie Chicken, Braised


China

Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2 main
***
1-1/2 hrs
Yes
The black bean sauce emphasizes the dark color and deep flavor of this unique chicken. If necessary, it takes reheating well, in the oven or in a pan. Serve with plain steamed rice for contrast.

1
1-1/2
1/3
1
2
4
------
1
1/2
1-1/2
1/4
1
------
1
1
2
------


T
in
cl
oz
oz
---
T
T
T
c
t
---
c
T
T
---

Silkie Chicken (1)  
Soy Sauce, dark
Ginger
Garlic
Shallots
Onion
-- Sauce
Black Beans (2)
Soy Sauce
Oyster Sauce
Rice Wine
Sugar
-----------
Stock, chicken
Oil
Oil
-- Garnish
Cilantro

Prep   -   (45 min - 25 min work)
  1. Thaw SILKIE. Cut off head and feet, reserving for stock. Cut into serving pieces as desired, usually 4 pieces. Rub pieces with Soy Sauce and set aside to marinate for about 1/2 hour.
  2. Slice GINGER very thin and chop fine. Crush GARLIC and chop fine. Peel SHALLOTS and slice thin. Peel ONION, cut in quarters lengthwise and slice crosswise very then. Mix all.
  3. Rinse BLACK BEANS and chop fine. Mix all Sauce items.
Run   -   (1-3/4 hrs)
  1. In a spacious coverable sauté pan, heat Oil and fry Onion mix stirring until garlic starts to color, then stir in the Sauce mix, then Stock, and bring to a boil. Take off the heat and set aside.
  2. In a well seasoned iron skillet, heat 2 T Oil and fry Silkie pieces on both sides until the skin is getting crispy (they're too dark to see if they're browning).
  3. Transfer Silkie into the sauté pan, bring to a boil, cover and simmer slowly 30 minutes shaking the pan now and then. Turn silkie pieces over and simmer another 30 minutes. Make sure the pan doesn't go dry.
  4. Remove Silkie from the pan, arrange on serving plate and keep warm. Adjust the liquid to the sauce consistency you want, either by boiling down or adding boiling water. For serving with white rice the sauce should be fairly light.
  5. Pour Sauce over Silkie and serve hot garnished with chopped Cilantro, and with plenty of steamed long grain rice.
NOTES:
  1. Silkie Chicken:

      Select a silkie weighing about 1-1/2 pounds for two people. These chickens are unique in having dark flesh, blue-black skin and five toes. See our Silkie Chicken page for details. This dish can, of course, be made with large cornish game hens - color will be different, flavor somewhat different and cooking time a little shorter.
  2. Black Beans:

      These are fermented black soy beans, available in cardboard cylinders or plastic bags in just about any market serving an Asian community. For details see our Fermented Black Beans page.
  3. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar=as required tt=to taste
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