Best White Cut Chicken Recipes

BAI QIE JI (WHITE CUT CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Bring 4 quarts of cold water to a boil in a 7-quart Dutch oven. Add the salt, ginger and scallion. Slowly lower the chicken into the boiling water with the breast side up. Bring the water back up to a gentle boil. Carefully lift the chicken out using the handles of 2 wooden spoons or 2 pairs of chopsticks positioned under the wings, being careful not to tear the skin, so that all the water drains from the cavity; do not use tongs to lift the chicken as they can easily tear the skin. This step allows for any cold water still in the cavity to drain and ensures even cooking, inside and out. Lower the chicken back into the water. Bring the water back up to a boil and reduce the heat to low for a gentle simmer. Cook, covered, until the juices run clear when cut in between the leg and thigh, 33 to 35 minutes. Right before the chicken is done, prepare a large bowl of ice water.
• Transfer the chicken to the bowl of ice water breast-side down and let cool, flipping halfway through, for about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken, letting the excess water drip off. (Submerging the chicken in an ice bath, not only stops the cooking so that it doesn't overcook, but also helps to firm the meat and gives the skin a crispness that couldn't be achieved otherwise.)
• Carve the chicken using a meat cleaver or large heavy chef's knife: start by detaching both leg quarters (leg and thigh together) from the body. Chop the leg quarters into roughly 3/4-inch pieces. Place the leg pieces in the lower half of the plate. Cut off the wings and drumettes and place right above the leg pieces. Cut the breastbone in half and remove the spine. Chop the breast into 3/4- to 1-inch pieces starting at the tapered end; transfer the breast pieces to the plate on top of the leg pieces.
• Serve with a small bowl of Scallion-Ginger Sauce for dipping or plain soy sauce.
• Stir together the ginger, scallions and 1 teaspoon salt in a heatproof medium bowl.
• Heat the oil over high heat in a small pot until it just starts to smoke or registers 375 degrees F on a digital thermometer, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully pour the hot oil over the scallion-ginger mixture and stir to combine. Mix in the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon white pepper.

WHITE-CUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make chicken:
• Rinse chicken inside and out, then bend legs to tuck feet (if still attached) inside cavity. Stuff cavity with scallions, ham, and ginger.
• Bring water with salt to a boil in a deep 7- to 8-quart stockpot or pasta pot. Add chicken, breast side down (chicken may not be completely covered with liquid), then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 30 minutes. Turn chicken over and let stand, covered, 15 minutes more (chicken will be cooked through).
• While chicken stands, fill a large bowl three-fourths full with ice and cold water. Carefully remove chicken from pot with a large slotted spoon and plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Let stand, gently turning over once (be careful not to tear skin), until cool, about 10 minutes total. Carefully transfer to a cutting board and discard scallions, ham, and ginger from cavity. Pat dry. Rub skin with sesame oil.
• Make dipping sauce:
• Stir together scallions and soy sauce in a small heatproof bowl.
• Heat wok over high heat until a drop of water vaporizes instantly. Pour oil around side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl oil, coating sides. When oil just begins to smoke, carefully add ginger (oil will spatter) and stir-fry 30 seconds. Immediately remove from heat and pour over scallion mixture, stirring to combine (scallions will wilt).
• To cut and serve chicken on a platter (Chinese restaurant-style), cut off the head and neck (if attached) with a cleaver and put at one end of a large platter. (These parts, along with the back and feet, aren't always eaten.) Cut off the feet. Cut off the drumsticks and thighs, then cut crosswise through the boneinto 1-inch pieces. Place the feet and leg meat at the other end of the platter. Cut off the wings, separating them at the joints, and put on the sides of the platter. Cut through the ribs, separating breast from back, then cut the backbone crosswise into 3 pieces and put them in the center of the platter. (Striking the cleaver with a rubber mallet makes the cuts clean.) Cut the breast crosswise through the bone into 1-inch pieces and arrange on the back. Alternatively, cut chicken according to procedure and mound pieces in a bowl.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons dipping sauce over chicken and sprinkle with cilantro leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature, with remaining dipping sauce on the side.

WHITE CUT CHICKEN WITH SCALLION GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Stuff the cavity with the scallions, ginger, and garlic. Bring the water and salt to a boil. Place the chicken breast side down. Try to cover most of the chicken with the water adding a little more if needed. Reduce heat to a simmer cover the pot and simmer 20 minutes.
• 2. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 30 minutes. Turn the chicken over and let stand 15 more minutes. Place ice in a large bowl. Remove the chicken from the pot, discard the scallions, ginger, and garlic in the cavity and place in ice bath for 10 minutes.Turning after 5 minutes. Move to cutting board and rub the sesame oil over the skin.
• 3. For the sauce Place the oil in a hot pan. Carefully add the ginger and garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add the scallions, soy sauce, mirin. cook until the scallions are wilted.
• 4. Serve the chicken with the sauce over top or as a dipping sauce. Garnish with cilantro.

*WHITE CUT CHICKEN

Steps:

• White cut chicken is poached chicken which is white-cooked, or cooked without soy sauce. Either a spring or boiling chicken can be used. (The Chinese prefer 4- to 5-pound pullets or young hens.) In any case, the best birds are the plump ones with a thin layer of fat beneath the skin. (The skin, after cooking, becomes fine and satiny.) White cut chicken, because of its delicate texture and flavor, is never served with heavy, overwhelming sauces it's usually eaten cold with various dips. It can also be used in any recipe that calls for cooked chicken.The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

WHITE CUT CHICKEN, STEWING FOWL

Steps:

• 1. Place chicken in a heavy saucepan. Slice scallion stalks and ginger root and add, along with cold water and salt. Bring to a boil then cook, covered, over medium heat 30 minutes. 2. Turn off heat and let stand, covered, 30 minutes more. (Do not remove lid.) 3. Drain, reserving liquid for stock. Let cool then refrigerate. Chop in 2-inch sections, or carve Western-style. Serve with dips for white cut chicken (search for "Category: White-Cooked or Roast Chicken Dips"). The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.