Yen Can Cook – Braised Chicken with Chestnuts
Do you like chestnuts(栗子/板栗)? I like it very much, be it roasted, boiled or braised in a dish. I like its delicate creamy texture and the sweet nutty flavour. Chestnuts are available fresh, dried, frozen as well as cooked and ready-to-eat package just like the photo shown below.
Cooked and ready-to-eat chestnuts which can be found in supermarkets (vegetables or fruits section)
Fresh chestnuts are harvested in autumn and ready-to-use/eat chestnuts are available all year round. So I’m going to use the later to prepare my dish today. Not only it can be easily obtained but also time saving on removing shells of the fresh chestnuts. But of course you can use fresh or dried one for this recipe.
Ingredients (serve: 3-4)
300g chicken, cut into bite size
15-20 chestnuts
3-6 Shiitake Mushrooms
3 slices of ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 shallots, chopped
1 teaspoon of dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon of oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of cooking wine
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
Cooking oil
1/2 cup of water
Marinade
2 teaspoons cooking wine
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
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Step 1: Blanch chicken pieces in boiling water to remove impurities. clean and drain.
Step 2: Marinate the chicken with marinade for at least 20 minutes.
Step 3: Heat oil in a wok/saucepan, saute ginger, shallots and garlic for 2 minutes. Add in chicken (Step 2), cook until brown on both sides.
Step 4: Add chestnuts, dried mushrooms, oyster sauce, sugar, soy sauce and water.
Step 5: Bring it to boil, then turn to low heat and simmers for 20 minutes or until the chestnuts are well cooked (soft to your own preference).
Step 6: Add in sesame oil when the gravy is thicken, remove from heat and serve.
HAPPY COOKING!
Must be very yum! No mushrooms? I’d usually like to add some dried shitake in!
Ken, yes, I like mushroom too and there are a few Shiitake Mushrooms being added 🙂
I love chestnuts and you just cooked a delicious dish.
I find these ready-to-eat packets are cheaper than those real fresh ones sold by hawkers. Their size may be bigger and fresher but not the price. I learnt that many imported preserved fruits are often cheaper than fresh ones.
TM, For this one I got, those chestnuts are quite big.
Those imported fruit I seldom buy because they are so expensive >_<
I love chestnuts and this looks really yummy. I am sure kids will love this. It looks like very easy to cook too. Shall give it a try one of these days.
Merryn, Ya it’s definitely not difficult to whip this up!
I’m ok with chestnuts but have only eaten them roasted….but never braised in a dish like this. Must be good with rice =)
Kris, the gravy yes, went well with rice 🙂
I love chestnuts too – a great addition to any stew! Maybe you could try making chestnut ice cream someday too! 😉