Chinese Chicken Recipes - Five-Spice Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 chicken

• 120ml/1/2 cup soy sauce

• 2.5cm/1 in piece ginger root minced

• 1 clove garlic crushed

• 15ml/1 tbsp five spice powder

• 30ml/2 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry

• 30ml/2 tbsp honey

• 2.5cm/1/2 tsp sesame oil

• oil for deep-frying

• 30ml/2 tbsp salt

• 5ml/1 tsp freshly ground pepper

---

Method:

1. Place the chicken in a large saucepan and fill with water to come half way up the thigh.

2. Reserve 15 ml/1 tbsp of the soy sauce and add the remainder to the pan with the ginger, garlic and half the five-spice powder.

3. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the chicken to stand in the water until the water is lukewarm. Drain.

4. Cut the chicken in half lengthways and place cut side down in a roasting tin.

5. Mix together the remaining soy sauce and five-spice powder with the wine or sherry, honey and sesame oil.

6. Rub the mixture over the chicken and leave to stand for 2 hours, brushing occasionally with the mixture.

7. Heat the oil and deep-fry the chicken halves for about 15 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper and cut into serving sized pieces.

8. Meanwhile, mix the salt and pepper and heat in a dry pan for about 2 minutes. Serve as a dip with the chicken.