Legend has it that, long ago, a man named Huazi created a dish unlike any other, using a chicken without seasonings or a pot, yet it was incredibly delicious. Based on this legend, Huazi perfected the dish, refining and perfecting the technique to create this chicken, which is also known as Huazi chicken. Huazi chicken is a famous dish in the Jiangnan region. It has a long history. The preparation of Huazi chicken is also very simple, but the taste is extraordinary.

Instructions for making Huazi chicken

Ingredients neededIngredients:

1000g tender chickenGinger50g, 50g green onion, 20g garlicOnion100gCilantro50gHoney50g, five-spice powder, saltSoy sauceAs needed

Preparation steps

1. Marinate the tender chicken, clean and remove the innards.

2. Chop the ginger, green onion, garlic, and onion.

3. Rub the chicken inside and out with salt and five-spice powder, then add ginger, green onion, garlic, onion, cilantro, and soy sauce, and marinate for 4 hours.

4. Place the marinated chicken inOvenBake at 250°F (120°C) for 30 minutes, and 180°F (82°C) for 2 hours.

5. After baking, remove the tin foil andLotus leavesServe.

Tips

1. Marinating is very important in the process of making Huazi chicken. The marinating time is generally quite long. If you don't want to marinate for a long time, add more salt to make it taste better.

2. Wrap it tightly to prevent the liquid from leaking out.

How to make authentic Huazi chicken

Ingredients needed

Three yellow chicken1 chickenShiitake mushrooms5 pieces, 1 lotus leaf, 1 onion,Flour200g, rice wine, soy sauce, pepper, salt, wine, ginger, green onion, and oyster sauce as needed.

Preparation steps

1. Use the back of a knife to knock the bones of thechicken legto make it easier to fold.

2. Add chopped green onion, ginger, garlic, salt, oyster sauce, rice wine, and pepper to the chicken, and massage and knead it into thechicken meat.3. Heat the

star aniseto release its aroma, and crush the star anise with a rolling pin.4. Add the chicken again and marinate it. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for more than an hour, and turn it over halfway through.

5. Soak the dried lotus leaves in cold water for a while, and mix them with cold white wine.

6. Then, apply five-spice powder and pepper to the marinated chicken, chop the onion and shiitake mushrooms into strips, and mix them with the remaining marinade.

7. Stuff the mixed shiitake mushrooms and onion strips, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings into the chicken belly, and place them in the lotus leaves that have been soaked in water, and wrap them.

8. Roll the dough into a large circle and place the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves in the middle.

9. Wrap the dough around it and place it on a baking sheet that has been brushed with oil. Preheat to 160°F (71°C), bake for 80 minutes.

10. Open the dough, remove the lotus leaves, and enjoy the delicious Huazi chicken.

Tips

1. In the process of making Huazi chicken, using the back of a knife to break the bones of the chicken leg makes it easier to wrap and shape.

2. The marinating time for the chicken should be longer, and it should be turned over frequently in the middle to help it absorb the flavor.

3. Lotus leaves are dry in summer, so soak them in water for 30 minutes first.

4. Add an appropriate amount of white wine and flour, which can make the cooked chicken release a unique flavor.

5. After marinating, mix the marinade with shiitake mushrooms and onions, which not only flavors the chicken but also makes it more fragrant.

Combine the marinated seasonings with the shiitake mushrooms and onions, not only flavoring them, but also making the chicken more flavorful.

Specialties of "Jiao Hua Chicken" dishes

Huazi chicken characteristics

Historical anecdotes1. Legend has it that, long ago, a man named Huazi wandered around, begging for food, and eventually ended up in a village in the county of Changshu.One day, he came across a chicken and wanted to cook it, but he didn't have any utensils or seasonings.He went to the foot of Mount Yushan, killed the chicken, removed the innards, and coated it with mud and straw, then placed it in the fire to roast. Once the mud was dry, the chicken was cooked, and the mud shell was peeled off. The chicken skin was also removed, revealing the cooked chicken meat.

About 100 years ago, the "Shan Jing Garden" restaurant in the northwest of Changshu County, Mount Yushan, created this dish based on this legend, refining and perfecting the technique to create this chicken.2. Legend has it that, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, he secretly visited the Jiangnan region and accidentally got lost in the wilderness.A man named Huazi saw him in trouble and offered him a dish he thought was delicious, called "Huazi chicken."Qianlong, being hungry and tired, naturally thought the chicken was delicious.After eating, he asked the name of the dish, and Huazi, feeling embarrassed, said that it was called "Fu Gui chicken."Qianlong praised the dish.Huazi later learned that the wandering man was actually the current emperor.

This "Huazi chicken" became "Fu Gui chicken" because of the emperor's endorsement.

Characteristics of Huazi chicken