Hainanese Chicken Rice Recipe Meatmen

Name: Hainanese Chicken Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (around 1.5 kg); 2 thumbs ginger (peeled and sliced); 6 cloves garlic (peeled and smashed); 3 scallions (cut into 3-inch pieces); 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 cups jasmine rice; 2 cups chicken stock; 2 pandan leaves; 2 cloves garlic (peeled and smashed); 1 thumb ginger (peeled and sliced); 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; Sliced cucumber and chili sauce (for serving)

Looking for Hainanese chicken rice recipe meatmen? you are in the right place.

The first time we tried Hainanese Chicken Rice was from the famous Tian Tian stall at the Maxwell Food Center in Singapore.

Although Hainanese chicken rice is named after Hainan in China, it became famous when this dish was brought to Singapore.

The chicken is blanched in boiling water until cooked through, then dipped in cold water to ensure the meat stays moist.

It is served with incredibly fragrant rice that is cooked in broth with ginger and other aromatics. We enjoyed eating it so much, that we decided to replicate it at home!

Hainanese Chicken Rice recipe is so beloved in Singapore that it is practically the national dish.

Consisting of nothing but steamed chicken, rice cooked in chicken broth, and a soup made with the same broth, it is served with chilli sauce and is a dish fit for the gods.

During the Chinese New Year and other special occasions, it occupies a place of honour on the altar table.

What is Hainanese Chicken Rice?

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a dish that originated from the Hainan province in southern China. It consists of poached chicken served on top of fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, with a side of chili sauce, sliced cucumber, and light soy sauce. The chicken is flavored with ginger and scallions, which gives it a subtle yet distinct aroma and taste.

The dish was brought to Southeast Asia by Hainanese immigrants, and it quickly became a popular street food in Singapore and Malaysia. Today, it’s considered a national dish in Singapore, and it’s widely enjoyed by people all over the world.

Hainanese Chicken Rice Ingredients

1 whole chicken, around 1.5 kg
2 thumbs ginger, peeled and sliced
6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3 scallions, cut into 3-inch pieces
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups jasmine rice
2 cups chicken stock
2 pandan leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 thumb ginger, peeled and sliced
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Sliced cucumber and chili sauce, for serving

How to make Hainanese Chicken Rice

Rinse the chicken inside and out, and pat it dry with paper towels. Stuff the cavity with ginger slices and scallions.

In a large pot, heat up enough water to cover the chicken. Add the garlic, ginger, and scallions, and bring to a boil.

Carefully lower the chicken into the pot, breast side down. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let the chicken simmer for 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let the chicken sit in the hot water for another 30 minutes. This will ensure that the chicken is fully cooked and tender.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. In a pot, heat up the vegetable oil and sauté the garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil.

Add the chicken stock, pandan leaves, and salt to the pot. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let the rice cook for 15-20 minutes, or until fully cooked.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, chop it into bite-sized pieces.

To serve, spoon some rice onto a plate, and top with a few pieces of chicken. Serve with sliced cucumber and chili sauce on the side.

What if I don’t have pandan leaves?

Pandan leaves are a traditional ingredient in Hainanese Chicken Rice, but if you can’t find them, you can omit them or substitute with other aromatic leaves, such as bay leaves or lemongrass.

How can I make the chili sauce for Hainanese Chicken Rice?

To make the chili sauce, blend together 4-5 fresh red chili peppers, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp of ginger, 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tbsp of vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Add some hot water to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency.

Can I use a slow cooker to cook the chicken?

Yes, you can use a slow cooker to cook the chicken. Place the chicken and aromatics in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until fully cooked.

Tips for making the perfect Hainanese Chicken Rice

Make sure to rinse the rice several times before cooking to remove excess starch and impurities.
Let the chicken sit in the hot water after cooking to ensure that it’s fully cooked and tender.
Use a sharp cleaver or knife to chop the chicken into pieces for a clean and neat presentation.
To make the chicken skin shiny and attractive, brush it with some hot oil before serving.

What is so special about Hainanese chicken rice?

Hainanese Chicken Rice is a beloved Southeast Asian dish that is known for its simple, yet flavorful ingredients and unique cooking techniques.

The chicken is cooked in a fragrant broth that infuses it with flavor and tenderness, while the rice is cooked in the same broth to create a rich, aromatic flavor.

The combination of the savory chicken and fragrant rice, along with the tangy chili sauce, creates a mouthwatering taste sensation that is hard to resist.

It’s no wonder that Hainanese Chicken Rice is considered a national dish in Singapore and Malaysia, and a favorite comfort food for many people around the world.

What is the difference between chicken rice and Hainanese chicken rice?

While both dishes feature chicken and rice, the difference between regular chicken rice and Hainanese Chicken Rice lies in the preparation and flavor.

Hainanese Chicken Rice uses a unique cooking technique where the chicken is first poached in a flavorful broth that is made from chicken bones, ginger, garlic, and pandan leaves.

This broth is also used to cook rice, giving it a rich, aromatic flavor. The chicken is then sliced and served with the rice, along with a tangy chili sauce and cucumber slices.

Regular chicken rice, on the other hand, is often simply boiled or roasted chicken served with plain rice.

How Do I Serve Hainanese Chicken Rice

The moment has come to serve and enjoy your Hainanese chicken rice now that you know how to make it. Here are some suggestions for serving it so that your visitors will feel as though they are dining in a five-star establishment.

In the beginning, place a mound of rice in the middle of each dish. To make a neat and pretty mound of rice, use a tiny bowl or mold.

The poultry should then be artistically placed around the rice. Spread them out in a fan shape, or line them up in a circular. Use a sharp knife to cut the poultry into uniform, bite-sized pieces for a classy display.

The savory flavors of the chicken and rice benefit from a juxtaposition with the cool, crunchy cucumber slices served on the side.

Finally, to add saltiness and depth of flavor, drizzle some soy sauce over the poultry and rice. Put the hot condiment on the side for those who can handle it.

Variations

This variant uses a ginger-scallion sauce over chicken and rice instead of aromatics. To make the sauce, mix ginger, onions, oil, and soy sauce.

Lemongrass, cilantro, and lime juice add Thai flavors to this version. Add a hot Thai dipping sauce.

Use coconut milk instead of water to cook the rice and make the sauce for a creamy, rich twist on the staple.

After cooking, this version fries the poultry for a crispy, golden crust. Sweeten it with sweet chilli sauce.

Tofu, mushrooms, or other protein sources can replace poultry for vegetarian or vegan options. Cook the rice in veggie broth instead of chicken broth and add fried tofu or sautéed mushrooms for texture and flavour.