Copycat Aristocrat South China Chicken pairs crisp fried chicken with a glossy ham, egg, and oyster sauce.
1 hour 15 minutes · Serves 6
Ingredients for Copycat Aristocrat South China Chicken
1 whole dressed chicken
Oil, for deep-frying and sautéing
1 liter warm water
1/3 cup salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ginger paste
20 quail eggs
1 cup thick-cut Champagne ham, sliced
1 bunch choy sum, bok choy, or gailan, blanched
How to cook Copycat Aristocrat South China Chicken
1.Dissolve 1/3 cup salt and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Brine the chicken in a sealed bag for 12 hours; drain and bring toward room temperature for 1 hour.
2.Heat deep-frying oil to 180°C. Fry the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and cooked through; drain, cool, and chop.
3.Whisk chicken stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cooking wine, cornstarch, 1 tablespoon sugar, sesame oil, and white pepper.
4.Sauté garlic, shallot, and ginger paste in a wok. Add the sauce over high heat and bring to a boil.
5.Add ham and quail eggs; boil until the sauce thickens. Add chicken without stirring, cover, and simmer 2 minutes.
6.Plate chicken, spoon over sauce, ham, and eggs, and serve with blanched greens.
