Saturday, July 6, 2013

Recipe: Chinese ginger wine chicken 姜酒雞

Asian women would usually undergo "confinement" for 30 days after giving birth to their child. During the confinement period, this dish of ginger wine chicken 姜酒雞 is commonly eaten as it is believed that ginger is good for expelling wind, helping blood circulation and is good for body recuperation (believed to be able to speed up womb recovery). I have to say that one of my favorite things about confinement was getting to eat this everyday (yes, I ate this 3 meals a day for 30 days!) and surprisingly I never got bored of it!

Chinese ginger wine chicken


I have previously posted another version using Chinese rice wine, however for something more accessible you can try the Ginger Wine from Eu Yan Sang, which I have been using for over 10 years now. In countries where you cannot get hold of this, a good alternative is Stone's brand which I find good too. Other than using it to make this dish, ginger wine is very versatile - you can use it to marinate your meat or seafood as well as to add flavour to your stir fry dishes. I always have a bottle of this handy in my kitchen.

For this dish, I used chicken breast as it is leaner and healthier. This is the more soupy version, if you want something more concentrated then see my other version but substitute with ginger wine if you please. Use old ginger for a stronger taste and julienne thinly as you want to eat everything.


I love ginger so I find this an extremely fragrant and flavorful dish. It warms my body and tummy everytime I have this. Thank God that I can enjoy this anytime and not only when I'm in confinement. :)




Ginger wine chicken (suitable for confinement) 姜酒雞
Recipe by Baby Sumo
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves 3

Ingredients
500g chicken breast
120g old ginger
4 cloves garlic
150ml water
150ml ginger wine
3 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp salt

To serve
Soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 cili padi, chopped


1. In a large wok, heat sesame oil over high heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 2 minutes, until fragrant.

2. Add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes, and the chicken has browned slightly. Add water and cook with cover on for 3 minutes.

3. Then, pour in the ginger wine and place the cover back on and cook for a further 5 minutes (or more depending on how big your chicken chunks are).

4. Season with salt and serve immediately with some garlic with cili padi and soy sauce. Serve with a bowl of rice.



*I am submitting this to Little Thumb's Up "Ginger" event hosted by Alvin @ Chef and Sommelier.

30 comments:

  1. Yen, I love this dish a lot! No need to wait till confinement hah! hah!

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    Replies
    1. Haha true. Or else I will never get to eat it again! :P

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  2. ivy sew http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.comJuly 6, 2013 at 12:29 PM

    I love this too. During confinemet, I ate this 3 meals a day for more than a month too! I love it with lots of ginger and I usually cook it with home made red glutinous wine - ang jiu.

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    Replies
    1. Oh you're the same as me then! Hehe hi-5 to my friend who loves ginger wine :)

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  3. i'd happily eat this too! though ermm, i think 30 consecutive days would be too much. i'd give up after three days, heh! :D

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    Replies
    1. I don't think I could eat this consecutively for 30 days now, but during confinement it just tasted so good.

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  4. I love this dish too..but if I am going to have it 3 meals a day for 30days, I probably couldn't do that...To be honest, I love the soup more than the chicken

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    Replies
    1. I ate so much chicken during confinement, I think one a day!

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    2. That is good, U need some food to recover from Labour..good thing is you still look in good shape after having 2 kids...

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  5. ooh, love this a lot, infact i've cooked this 3 times in the last 2 months and will add some wood ears too !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes I love adding wood ear fungus to mine too :)

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  6. Hehe I know that if I showed this to my husband he will be hoping that I'll make it! It looks really good! And we're both getting a bit run down with colds so this would be perfect :D

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    Replies
    1. Ah yes this is perfect during cold winter days! Very warming.

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  7. Looks like what I had with mee sua at Jalan Alur - got me tipsy. Didn't like it though - I prefer our own local chicken soup with traditional Foochow red wine.

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  8. Yen, I love this ginger wine chicken very much and great that I know where to get that ginger wine as well :) Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Hi Yen! Love the wine and ginger flavour of this dish! Wife doesn't like it, so I had lots of this during her confinement period! Hahaha!

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  10. This looks so healthy and nourishing. Good to learn about your culture.

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  11. To me chicken and ginger is a match made in heaven :D That dish sure looks appetizing !

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anne, a Chinese chef once told me that in Cantonese cuisine, chicken and ginger must always be served together :)

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  12. Really enjoyed this during confinement! This looks great, would love to have some of this again.

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  13. So delicious and I wish I had some now! Simple yet yummy recipe, must try soon!

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  14. I'm missing mummy's ginger wine chicken!!

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  15. My husband said I've tried ginger wine duck before but can't remember. I'd try with chicken using your recipe one day. My husband said he'd like to eat it. :)

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  16. Hi Yen,

    Sad that I don't get to eat all these delicious ginger chicken when I was having my confinement. Guess who is my confinement lady? My husband... that's why! - LOL!

    Zoe

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  17. Went to many chinese medicine shops to look for the ginger wine but always end up the sales person dont know what im asking for. Didnt know its readily available in Eu Yan Sang. Im doing this on Monday !!

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  18. Do you know where I can find ginger wine and do you have a brand recommendation? I am trying to prepare this for my upcoming confinement. I am a first-time-mom. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kimmie,

      You can try either:
      1. Stone's brand - available at AEON (Jusco)
      2. Eu yan Sang ginger wine.

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    2. Is this the stone's brand? Is it the same as EYS and suitable for confinement?

      http://www.telford.com.hk/en/products_detail.php?f=5&s=10&t=5&pid=161

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  19. Hi, I have read the article. I like it so much. May I know if i can change the ginger wine to australian red wine? Coz i hardly find the ginger wine here. I am from indonesia. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be better to try and get ginger wine, try Stone's brand at your nearest alcohol stokist.

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