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Chinese Drunken Chicken (Cold Wine-Brined Chicken)

Chinese Drunken Chicken (Cold Wine-Brined Chicken)

A traditional Chinese cold dish of steamed chicken chilled and brined in Shaoxing wine and homemade broth with goji berries. Served cold in thin slices.

5-8y+

25 min prep · 100 min cook · 125 min total · 4 servings

No top allergens

Ingredients

Contains optional added salt for older eaters. Skip it for babies under 12 months.

  • 2 each chicken leg quarter, deboned, skin on
  • 600 ml water2.54 cup water
  • 10 g ginger, sliced0.35 oz ginger, sliced
  • 360 ml chicken broth1.52 cup chicken broth
  • 360 ml shaoxing wine1.52 cup shaoxing wine
  • 7.5 ml sugar1.52 tsp sugar
  • 15 ml dried goji berry1.01 tbsp dried goji berry
  • salt (to taste), for older eaters only

Steps

Make the Stock

  1. Debone the chicken leg quarters, keeping the skin on, and reserve the bones to make a homemade stock.
  2. Add the reserved bones, water, and ginger to a small pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
  3. Simmer over low heat for at least 1 hour, then measure out 360 ml of broth for the brine. Store-bought low-sodium broth also works.

Steam the Chicken

  1. Rinse the deboned chicken and pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels.
  2. Lay each piece of chicken on a 30 cm sheet of foil, roll it up lengthwise, then twist the ends to form a candy-shaped bundle.
  3. Steam the wrapped chicken bundles over high heat for 20 minutes, covered.
  4. Turn off the heat and let the chicken rest in the closed steamer for 5 more minutes.
  5. Transfer the foil bundles to an ice bath for 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is completely cool, which locks in the juices.

Brine and Serve

  1. In a non-reactive container, stir together the chicken broth, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and goji berries until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Unwrap the cooled chicken, submerge it in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for 24 hours.
  3. Slice the chilled chicken and serve cold, keeping leftovers in the brine and eating within 3 days.
  4. For older kids and adults, you can stir a little salt to taste into the brine before chilling.

Nutrition

Calories
218
Protein
14g
Fat
13g
Carbs
4g

Tips by age

5-8y

Serve a few very thin slices with the skin removed. The brine contains uncooked Shaoxing wine, so this dish is not suitable for younger children and should be offered only in small amounts, if at all.

Choking safety: Remove the skin and check carefully for any small bone fragments before serving. Slice thinly so pieces are easy to chew.

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