Steamed Chicken with Shiitake Mushroom (香菇蒸鸡)

Method6 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Wash the dried shiitake mushrooms and cover them with cold water in a clean container. Cover and refrigerate overnight, until fully softened. Drain, discard the soaking liquid and trim away the hard stems; halve large mushrooms and leave small ones whole.

   Uses 1 big handful dried shiitake mushrooms · Cold water as needed for soaking the mushrooms

2. 2

   Step 2: Mix the chicken thigh pieces with the ginger (8 slices) slices, light soy sauce (1 teaspoon), dark soy sauce (½ teaspoon), oyster sauce (½ tablespoon), Shaoxing wine, sesame oil (1/4 tsp), white pepper (1 pinch) and cornstarch (1 tsp). Cover and refrigerate for about 10 minutes to marinate.

   Marinate chicken · 10 minUses 500 g skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks · 8 slices ginger · 1 teaspoon light soy sauce · ½ teaspoon dark soy sauce · ½ tablespoon oyster sauce · 1 teaspoon Shaoxing rice wine · 1/4 tsp sesame oil · 1 pinch ground white pepper

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Add the drained, prepared shiitake mushrooms from step 1 to the marinated chicken from step 2. Add the chopped chilies if using them, and mix. Spread the mixture in a deep heatproof plate that fits your steamer; avoid piling it into a bowl.

   Uses All prepared mushroom caps from step 1 · Chicken and all its marinade from step 2 · 4 bird’s eye chilies, optional, deseeded and chopped

4. 4

   Step 4: Bring water to a full boil in a covered wok or large pot. Support the plate from step 3 above the water using a steamer basket, a rack or a small heatproof bowl. Choose one setup and keep the water below the plate.

   Uses Water as needed in the steamer · Prepared chicken-and-mushroom plate from step 3

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Cover and steam the plate over medium heat, maintaining steady steam. Count about 20 minutes from boiling and steam returning after the plate is added. Check the largest chicken pieces reach 74 °C (165 °F) at their centers; continue steaming if needed, replenishing water below the plate as necessary.

   Check steamed chicken · 20 minUses Chicken-and-mushroom plate above the steamer water · Water as needed in the steamer

6. 6

   Step 6: Once the chicken is fully cooked, sprinkle the finely chopped scallion (1 stalk) over the dish and serve immediately with the juices collected in the plate.

   Uses Cooked chicken, mushrooms and their plate juices · 1 stalk scallion, finely chopped