Name: Singaporean Hainanese Chicken Rice Perfection
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 1 h 32 min
Total time: 2 h 17 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: US
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, about 3-4 lbs; 1 stalk spring onion, roughly chopped; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled; Water, enough to cover the chicken; Salt, to taste; 5 tablespoons light soy sauce; 1.5 tablespoons white sugar; 1 tablespoon garlic oil; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 3 cups uncooked long-grain rice; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, crushed; Salt, to taste; 5 red chile peppers, seeded and chopped; 2 limes, juiced; 3 cloves garlic; 1 (1/2-inch) piece ginger; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 1 pinch white sugar; 2 limes, juiced; 3 cloves garlic; 1 (1-inch) piece young ginger; 0.125 teaspoon salt

An exquisite culinary journey awaits with this deceptively simple dish. Tender, succulent chicken infused with aromatic flavors, served alongside fragrant rice cooked in rich chicken broth. This Hainanese Chicken Rice is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for any occasion.

Follow The Directions

01

Step

Trim the chicken of any excess fat, reserving the fat. (5 minutes)

02

Step

In a large pot, combine the chicken, spring onion, 3 cloves of crushed garlic, and a 1-inch piece of ginger. Add enough water to completely cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 1 hour, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F (74°C). Skim off any scum that rises to the surface during simmering. (1 hour 10 minutes)

03

Step

Remove the chicken from the pot, reserving the broth. Rub the chicken generously with salt. Chop the chicken into serving pieces and arrange on a plate. (10 minutes)

04

Step

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of the reserved chicken broth, sugar, garlic oil, and sesame oil. Drizzle this mixture over the chicken pieces. (5 minutes)

05

Step

Melt the reserved chicken fat in a large pot over medium heat. Add the rice, minced garlic, crushed ginger, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice becomes glossy and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. (5 minutes)

06

Step

Pour enough of the reserved chicken broth into the pot to cover the rice by about 1/2 inch. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Let the rice sit, covered, for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving. (30 minutes)

07

Step

For the garlic chile dip, combine the chopped chile peppers, juice of 2 limes, 2 tablespoons of the reserved chicken broth, 3 cloves of garlic, a 1/2-inch piece of ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of sugar in a blender. Blend until smooth. (5 minutes)

08

Step

For the ginger dip, combine the juice of 2 limes, 2 tablespoons of the reserved chicken broth, 3 cloves of garlic, a 1-inch piece of young ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a blender. Blend until smooth. (5 minutes)

09

Step

Serve the Hainanese Chicken Rice hot, with the garlic chile dip and ginger dip on the side. Garnish with sliced cucumber and fresh cilantro, if desired.