Hainanese Chicken Rice
Poached chicken with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat. Malaysia's beloved comfort food, served with three essential, vibrant sauces.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Whole chicken(Choose a good quality, plump chicken.)
- 400 g Jasmine rice(About 2 cups.)
- 150 g Ginger(About 2-inch piece, divided. Some for poaching, some for sauces and rice.)
- 8 cloves Garlic(Peeled and smashed, divided. Some for poaching, some for rice and sauces.)
- 3 Pandan leaves(Tied into knots.)
- 2 tbsp Salt(For rubbing the chicken, divided. Plus more for seasoning.)
- plenty Ice(For the ice bath.)
- 2 tbsp Sesame oil(For rubbing the chicken skin.)
- reserved Chicken fat(Rendered from the chicken cavity.)
- 5-7 Fresh red chilies(Adjust to spice preference. Seeded for less heat.)
- 2 tbsp Lime juice(Freshly squeezed.)
- 1 tsp Sugar(For chili sauce and sweet soy sauce.)
- 3 tbsp Dark soy sauce(For serving and sweet soy sauce.)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil(For ginger paste.)
- reserved Chicken broth or water(From poaching the chicken, for cooking rice and sauces.)
- 1 Cucumber(Sliced, for serving.)
- small bunch Cilantro(Optional, for garnish.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the chicken: Rinse the whole chicken inside and out under cold running water. Pat it completely dry with paper towels. Rub the chicken generously all over, inside and out, with 2 tablespoons of salt. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse off the salt thoroughly. Stuff the cavity with half of the smashed ginger and half of the smashed garlic cloves. Reserve any loose chicken fat from the cavity for later.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 2
Poach the chicken: Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge the chicken. Add the remaining smashed ginger, garlic, and pandan leaves. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat. Carefully lower the chicken into the boiling water, breast-side down. Once the water returns to a boil, reduce the heat to low, maintaining a very gentle simmer. The water should barely be bubbling, around 80°C (175°F). Cover the pot and poach for 45-55 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) reads 74°C (165°F).
⏱️ 55 minutes - 3
Shock and finish the chicken: While the chicken is poaching, prepare a large bowl or sink filled with ice and cold water. Once the chicken is cooked, immediately remove it from the poaching liquid and plunge it into the ice bath. Let it chill for at least 10 minutes. This crucial step stops the cooking process and creates the signature silky, slightly gelatinous skin. Remove the chicken from the ice bath, pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels, and rub the skin all over with sesame oil for a glossy finish and aroma.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 4
Prepare the fragrant rice: Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well. In a separate pot or the inner pot of a rice cooker, render the reserved chicken fat over medium heat until melted and fragrant. Add the minced remaining ginger and garlic and sauté until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. Add the drained rice and stir to coat it in the fat, toasting lightly for about 2 minutes. Pour in enough reserved chicken poaching broth (or water) to achieve a 1:1.25 ratio of rice to liquid (e.g., for 400g rice, use about 500ml liquid). Add the knotted pandan leaves. Cook the rice using your rice cooker's standard setting or on the stovetop according to package directions.
⏱️ 25 minutes - 5
Make the sauces: \n1. Ginger-Scallion Oil: Finely mince or grate the remaining ginger. Mix with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, a pinch of salt, and optionally some finely chopped scallions. \n2. Chili Sauce: Blend fresh red chilies (seeded if desired), remaining smashed garlic, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 teaspoon sugar, and about 2-3 tablespoons of the chicken poaching broth until smooth. Season with salt to taste. \n3. Sweet Soy Sauce: Combine 3 tablespoons of dark soy sauce with 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 6
Serve: Let the poached chicken rest for about 10 minutes before carving. Chop the chicken into serving pieces through the bone. Serve the chicken pieces alongside the fragrant rice. Garnish with fresh cucumber slices and optional cilantro. Serve with small bowls of the three prepared sauces on the side.
⏱️ 10 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For the most tender chicken, ensure the poaching liquid is barely simmering, not boiling.
- ✓The ice bath is crucial for achieving the characteristic silky skin and firm, moist meat.
- ✓Using rendered chicken fat is key to the authentic flavor of the rice.
- ✓Taste and adjust seasoning for all sauces before serving.
- ✓The poaching liquid can be strained and used to make a light, flavorful soup to accompany the meal.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- For a 'Roasted' Hainanese Chicken Rice (Siu Gai style), the chicken can be roasted instead of poached, though the texture will differ.
- Serve the chicken and rice with blanched bean sprouts tossed in soy sauce and sesame oil.
- Experiment with different chili varieties for the chili sauce.
- Consider using a free-range or organic chicken for a richer flavor.