Hainanese Chicken and Rice

I first stumbled on this recipe courtesy of Instagram. The simple list of ingredients all done easily in a rice cooker had me sold. While not super spicy, the flavors and umami are deliciously intense without a lot of sodium.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice
• 2.5 cups unsalted chicken stock
• 1 chicken breast, skin on
• 1 chicken leg
• 1 cm ginger, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 scallion whites
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Salt (lightly)
• White ground pepper
• 1 seedless cucumber, sliced (optional)
• 2 tablespoon sweet chili sauce (or ginger scallion)

NOTE: Follow instructions for your rice cooker using the appropriate rice and stock measurements. Most cookers use a smaller, traditional measuring cup.

Optional Sweet Chili Sauce:

• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons cane sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice wine (can substitute dry sherry)
• 1 tablespoon sambal oelek chili crisp (use more or less according to taste) OR 1-2 teaspoons dried red chili flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
• 1 teaspoon tamari lite or low sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

Directions:

1. In a rice cooker, wash rice then add chicken stock. Add in ginger, garlic, scallion, and sesame oil.
2. Season chicken with a sprinkle of salt and white pepper. Add to the rice cooker, bone side down, and set to normal rice setting.
3. After the rice cooker finishes, let sit for five minutes.
4. Serve chicken sliced along side rice and with the optional side of cucumbers and sweet chili sauce.

For the chili sauce:

1. Place all of the ingredients except for the cornstarch mixture in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil, stirring regularly.
2. Once the sugar is dissolved stir in the cornstarch mixture, stirring continually until thickened, about one minute.
3. Let the sauce cool completely, pour into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Salt Swaps:

• Homemade unsalted chicken stock brings a huge flavor boost over water while also not adding unnecessary sodium.
• Low sodium tamari or soy sauce is a great swap over full sodium.

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