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Classic Cantonese Soy Sauce Chicken

groups4 servingsspeedMediumcountertopsPrep: 10 minsskilletCook: 45 minsscheduleTotal: 55 minsoutdoor_grillBraised
Allergens:warningSoywarningSesame

Allergen labels are AI-generated and may be incomplete or wrong. If you have a food allergy, always verify every ingredient yourself.

Recipe details are AI-generated from the video and may contain errors — for reference only.

skilletInstruction

11 Steps Total
01
Preparation
00:00:49
warningStay safe

Handling raw poultry; wash hands thoroughly afterwards to avoid cross-contamination.

Wash 1 whole organic chicken thoroughly under running water, ensuring the inside of the cavity is completely clean.

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Watch out

Wash inside the chicken cavity thoroughly

failing to clean properly leaves debris inside

Ingredients:chicken
02
Preparation
00:01:13
warningStay safe

Working with boiling water; pour carefully to avoid splashing.

Blanch the washed chicken by pouring boiling water over it, making sure the hot water enters the cavity until the skin contracts.

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Watch out

Pour boiling water thoroughly over every surface

uneven blanching causes patchy skin color later

Ingredients:chicken
03
Preparation
00:03:07
warningStay safe

Using a cleaver; keep fingers clear of the blade when chopping and crushing.

Prepare the aromatics: wrap 3 pieces of star anise in a paper towel and crush it with a cleaver, cut 3 stalks of green onion into short batons, slice 1 oz of ginger, and cut 4 shallots into four pieces each.

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Watch out

Wrap star anise securely in paper towel when crushing so fragments do not fly everywhere.

Ingredients:star anise (3 piece)green onion (3 piece)ginger (1 oz)shallot (4 piece)
Tools:Chinese cleavercutting board
04
Active Cooking
00:04:06
warningStay safe

Hot oil and liquids; stir carefully to prevent splashing.

Heat a wok with 2 tsp of oil, fry 1 oz ginger for 20 seconds, add 4 shallots and fry for 20 seconds, add 3 pieces crushed star anise for 10-15 seconds, add 3 pieces green onion and fry for 15 seconds, pour in 3 tbsp rice wine, then add 12 oz light soy sauce, 2 oz dark soy sauce, 16 oz hot water, and 3 oz rock sugar, cooking until the rock sugar completely dissolves and the broth boils.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat
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Watch out

Add liquids carefully to the hot wok

otherwise, hot oil will splatter and cause burns

Ingredients:oil (2 tsp)ginger (1 oz)shallot (4 piece)star anise (3 piece)green onion (3 piece)rice wine (3 tbsp)light soy sauce (12 oz)dark soy sauce (2 oz)water (16 oz)rock sugar (3 oz)
Tools:stainless steel spatulacarbon steel wok
05
Active Cooking
00:07:43
warningStay safe

Lowering chicken into hot liquid; do it slowly to avoid splashing hot soy sauce broth.

Place the blanched 1 whole organic chicken into the pot with the simmering master stock, and ladle the sauce over the chicken so all sides are covered.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat
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Watch out

Ladle sauce thoroughly over all crevices

uneven coating results in patchy skin color

Ingredients:chicken
Tools:ladle
06
Active Cooking
00:08:33

Cover the pot with a lid and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes, then carefully flip the chicken over, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes, then flip again and simmer for 10 more minutes until done.

local_fire_departmentlowest heat
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Watch out

Cook strictly on lowest heat

otherwise, the bottom will burn and the meat will toughen

Ingredients:chicken
Tools:potchopsticks
07
Waiting Time
00:10:46
warningStay safe

Lifting hot chicken out of the pot; handle carefully to avoid burns from hot drippings.

Take the cooked 1 whole organic chicken out and let it cool on ice for 10-20 minutes by placing one bag of ice underneath and one bag on top.

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Watch out

Keep the ice bagged so melting ice water does not dilute the chicken flavor.

Ingredients:chickenice (2 piece)
Tools:metal bowl
08
Active Cooking
00:11:31

Bring the remaining master soy sauce broth back to a boil so that it keeps better, then turn off the heat.

local_fire_departmentmedium heat
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Watch out

Boil the sauce thoroughly to sterilize it for safe future storage.

Tools:pot
09
Active Cooking
00:12:16
warningStay safe

Using a heavy cleaver; cut firmly and watch your fingers.

Chop the cooled 1 whole organic chicken in half lengthwise, remove wings and thighs, chop into roughly 1-inch wide pieces, and arrange them neatly on a plate to reconstruct the whole chicken shape including the head.

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Watch out

Keep the chicken pieces lined up in order while chopping so plating maintains the chicken shape.

Ingredients:chicken (1 piece)
Tools:Chinese cleavercutting board
10
Active Cooking
00:13:55

Add 2-3 ladlefuls of master soy sauce broth to the wok and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to minimum, stir in a slurry made of 2 tbsp cornstarch and 4 tbsp water, stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly to coat the spoon, and add a few drops of sesame oil before turning off the heat.

local_fire_departmentlow heat
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Watch out

Lower the heat to minimum before adding the slurry

otherwise, lumps will form

Ingredients:cornstarch (2 tbsp)sesame oil (1 tsp)
Tools:ladlecarbon steel wok
11
Active Cooking
00:14:46

Ladle the thickened soy sauce evenly over the arranged chopped chicken pieces, making sure to cover every piece.

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Watch out

Pour sauce evenly over all pieces

otherwise, some parts will lack flavor

Tools:ladle

groceryAll Ingredients

chicken1 piece
oil2 tsp
ginger1 oz
shallot4 piece
star anise3 piece
green onion3 piece
rice wine3 tbsp
light soy sauce12 oz
dark soy sauce2 oz
water16 oz
rock sugar3 oz
ice2 piece
cornstarch2 tbsp
sesame oil1 tsp

blenderAll Tools Needed

Chinese cleavercutting boardstainless steel spatulacarbon steel wokladlepotchopsticksmetal bowl