Hai Nan Ji Fan
Hainanese Chicken Rice
A beloved Singaporean national dish with roots in Hainan, this recipe features tender, poached chicken served alongside fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and broth. The result is a delicate yet deeply flavorful meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 Whole chicken(about 1.5kg, preferably free-range for better flavor and texture)
- 2 cups Jasmine rice(rinsed until water runs clear)
- 4 inches Ginger(divided: 2 inches sliced for poaching, 2 inches finely minced for rice and sauce)
- 6 cloves Garlic(divided: 3 cloves smashed for poaching, 3 cloves finely minced for rice and sauce)
- 3 tbsp Chicken fat(rendered from the chicken or store-bought)
- 1 tbsp Salt(for rubbing the chicken)
- enough to cover chicken Water(for poaching)
- enough for ice bath Ice cubes(for shocking the chicken)
- 1 Cucumber(sliced for garnish)
- for serving Chili sauce(store-bought or homemade, often a garlic-chili sauce)
- for serving Dark soy sauce(sweet or regular)
- optional, for serving Ginger-scallion oil(a drizzle of oil infused with ginger and scallions)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the chicken: Rub the whole chicken generously inside and out with salt. Place the sliced ginger and smashed garlic cloves inside the chicken cavity. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 2
Poach the chicken: In a large pot, combine enough water to generously cover the chicken, the remaining sliced ginger, and the remaining smashed garlic. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Carefully lower the chicken into the boiling water. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, ensuring the chicken is fully submerged. Cover the pot and poach for 45-50 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding bone) reads 74°C (165°F). Baste the chicken with the poaching liquid every 15 minutes for even cooking.
⏱️ 50 minutes - 3
Ice bath: Once cooked, immediately transfer the chicken to a large bowl filled with ice water. This 'shocking' process stops the cooking and tightens the skin, giving it a desirable texture. Let it cool for at least 15-20 minutes.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 4
Prepare the rice: While the chicken is cooling, rinse the jasmine rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well. In a separate pot or rice cooker insert, heat the chicken fat over medium heat until melted. Add the minced ginger and minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Cook the rice: Add the rinsed and drained rice to the pot with the sautéed ginger and garlic. Stir to coat the rice grains evenly with the fat and aromatics. Add 2 cups of the reserved chicken poaching liquid (strained if desired) to the pot. Season with a pinch of salt if needed. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes after cooking.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 6
Carve and serve: Remove the chicken from the ice bath and pat it dry. Carve the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Serve the chicken alongside the fragrant rice. Garnish with sliced cucumber. Offer chili sauce and dark soy sauce on the side for dipping and drizzling.
⏱️ 10 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The ice bath is crucial for achieving taut, smooth chicken skin.
- ✓Don't overcook the chicken; aim for a juicy interior. The poaching liquid should be barely simmering.
- ✓Using rendered chicken fat from the whole chicken adds superior flavor to the rice.
- ✓The quality of the chicken poaching liquid is key to the rice's flavor. Strain it for a cleaner taste.
- ✓For an authentic experience, serve with the traditional trio of sauces: chili sauce, dark soy sauce, and ginger-scallion oil.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- For a 'roasted' effect, you can briefly broil the poached chicken after cooling to crisp up the skin.
- Add a small piece of pandan leaf to the poaching liquid for an extra layer of fragrance.
- Serve with a side of blanched bok choy for a complete meal.