Chestnut stewed chicken is a classic Cantonese dish. However, with today's convenient information sharing, many people have learned how to make this chestnut stewed chicken. As for why so many want to learn it, the reason is probably because of its excellent nutritional balance. It's good for replenishing vitality, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and is a nourishing dish that enhances health and well-being.
Chestnut Stewed Chicken
When you have some free time, you might want to prepare a dish that requires a bit of time and effort, and chestnut stewed chicken is one of those dishes. Peeling chestnuts can be a bit tedious.
Ingredients Preparation
Fresh chestnuts, mountain chicken, green onions, ginger, garlic, star anise, dried chili peppers, cooking wine, salt, sugar, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, bell peppers as needed.
Method Steps
1. Cut a cross on each chestnut, then boil them in hot water with salt. Cover and let them sit for 5 minutes. Remove and peel the chestnuts.
2. Clean the mountain chicken, drain off the water, cut into large pieces, and blanch in boiling water to remove any impurities. Rinse with hot water, drain, and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan and stir-fry the chestnuts over low heat until they change color, then remove. In the same pan, sauté the green onions, ginger, garlic, star anise, and dried red chili peppers.
4. When fragrant, add the chicken and stir-fry. Add cooking wine and enough hot water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
5. After the chicken is about 70% cooked, add the chestnuts, salt, light soy sauce, and sugar for seasoning. Add a little dark soy sauce for coloring.
6. Cook until the chestnuts and chicken are fully cooked, then turn up the heat to thicken the sauce. Add bell peppers and mix evenly before serving.
Tips
When peeling chestnuts, take one out of the hot water at a time to peel; this makes it easier.
Homestyle Chestnut Stewed Chicken
The dish made by stewing chestnuts has a unique chestnut aroma, and the chestnuts themselves are soft, glutinous, and sweet. Sharing a pot of chestnut stew with your family will surely earn you plenty of praise.
Ingredients Preparation
Suitable amount of chicken, 500 grams of chestnuts, 2 red chili peppers, ginger, one teaspoon of salt, appropriate amount of rock sugar, suitable amount of rice wine, 2 tablespoons of braising sauce, and chopped green onions as needed.
Method Steps
1. Clean the chicken, then cut into pieces. Chop the green onions and ginger, and slice the red chili peppers.
2. Remove the outer shell from the chestnuts and soak them in warm water to remove the inner skin.
3. Heat oil in a wok and sauté the white parts of the green onions and ginger. Add the chicken and stir-fry. Pour in rice wine and light soy sauce.
4. Add sugar and stir-fry until the chicken turns slightly yellow and fragrant. Add enough water to cover the chicken, pour in the braising sauce, add the chestnuts, and season with salt. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer. Stir two or three times during cooking until the sauce thickens, the chestnuts and chicken are tender. Garnish with green onions and red chili peppers and mix well before serving.
Tips
If you don't have braising sauce, you can use a mixture of dark soy sauce and light soy sauce in a 1:4 ratio.
Nutritional Value of Chestnut Stewed Chicken
Chestnut stewed chicken is rich in nutrients. Chestnuts have the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach, activating blood circulation, and strengthening muscles and bones, as well as being beneficial for kidney health. Chicken contains a lot of protein and is also an important source of phospholipids. It is very good for people with weak constitutions, having certain effects of replenishing vitality, promoting blood circulation, warming and nourishing qi.