Posted on 12th Jul 2025

Hainanese Chicken Rice

A culinary gem! Tender poached chicken, fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, and flavorful condiments create a harmonious and satisfying dish.

Cuisine

Time

1 hr 30 min mins

Servings

4 people people

Ingredients

1 x 1.5kg chicken (large chicken)
½ teaspoon salt
a thumb-size piece of ginger
1 chicken stock cube
1 garlic clove, smashed
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
250g Thai fragrant jasmine rice

Ginger Oil

a large knob of ginger, finely chopped
3 spring onions, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Chilli garlic sauce

1/2 a thumb size piece of ginger
4 cloves of garlic
10 large red chillies

Hot Liquid

3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons hot vegetable (or chicken) stock
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon pure sesame oil
Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
1 whole cucumber sliced for garnish

Method

1. Find the parson’s nose of your chicken (it’s at the rear end and resembles something of a triangular tail no larger than the joint of your thumb) and cut it off – it will make your stock bitter if not discarded.

2. Rub the chicken all over with the salt, then place it in a large saucepan and cover it with cold water until fully submerged. Finely slice the ginger and add three-quarters of it to the saucepan along with the stock cube.

3. Using the flat side of a knife or cleaver, smash the garlic and peel away the skin. Set aside with the remaining ginger. Mix the sesame oil and light soy sauce together in a small bowl.