Cantonese Steamed Chicken with Shiitake Mushrooms
A classic home-style Cantonese dish featuring tender chicken pieces steamed with fragrant shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and scallions. It's a simple yet flavorful preparation that highlights the natural taste of the ingredients.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Chicken thighs(boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 5 medium Dried shiitake mushrooms(soaked in hot water until rehydrated, stems removed, sliced)
- 1 tbsp Fresh ginger(grated or finely minced)
- 2 stalks Scallions(white and green parts separated, whites chopped, greens thinly sliced for garnish)
- 2 tsp Light soy sauce
- 2 tsp Oyster sauce
- 2 tsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
- 0.25 tsp Sugar
- 0.125 tsp White pepper
- 2 tbsp Reserved mushroom soaking liquid(optional, for extra flavor)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the chicken and mushrooms: Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in hot water until rehydrated, then trim off the tough stems and slice the caps. Chop the white parts of the scallions.
- 2
Marinate the chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with light soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, cornstarch, sugar, white pepper, grated ginger, chopped scallion whites, and reserved mushroom soaking liquid (if using). Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes at room temperature, or longer in the refrigerator.
- 3
Arrange for steaming: Spread the marinated chicken and sliced shiitake mushrooms evenly on a heatproof plate or shallow steaming dish.
- 4
Steam the chicken: Bring a wok or pot of water to a rolling boil. Place the plate with the chicken and mushrooms into the steamer. Cover and steam over high heat for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- 5
Garnish and serve: Carefully remove the plate from the steamer. Garnish with the sliced green parts of the scallions. Serve hot with steamed rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Using chicken thighs ensures a more tender and juicy result compared to chicken breast.
- ✓Don't discard the mushroom soaking liquid; it adds a deep umami flavor to the marinade.
- ✓Ensure the steaming water is boiling vigorously before placing the dish in the steamer for optimal results.
🔄 Variations
- Add other ingredients like Chinese sausage slices, goji berries, or wood ear mushrooms to the steaming dish.
- If you prefer, you can use a whole chicken cut into pieces instead of thighs.
- A dash of dark soy sauce can be added to the marinade for a richer color.