Basic Braised Chicken

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. With a cleaver, chop chicken in 1-1/2 to 2-inch sections. Trim scallion
stalk and slice ginger root.
2. Heat oil in a large heavy pan and brown chicken sections quickly.
3. Add sherry, soy sauce, water, salt, scallions and ginger root. Bring to
a boil; then simmer, covered, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Add sugar and simmer, covered, 10 to 15 minutes more.
5. Transfer chicken sections to a serving bowl. Strain sauce and pour over.
Garnish with Chinese parsley and serve. VARIATIONS:
1. For the scallions, substitute 2 garlic cloves, crushed. For the water,
substitute 2 cups sherry.
2. In step 1, rub chicken sections with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1/4
teaspoon salt.
3. In step 1, toss chicken sections in a mixture of 2 tablespoons soy
sauce, 2 tablespoons sherry, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar and a
dash of pepper. Let stand 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Brown as in
step 2, but omit steps 3 and 4. Instead add to chicken 2 cups stock, plus
the scallions and ginger root. Bring to a boil; then simmer, covered, 30 to
45    minutes.
4. In step 2, after browning, remove chicken from pan. Heat 1 more
tablespoon oil. Then add the scallion stalks, cut in 1/2 inch sections; the
ginger slices, and 1 garlic clove, both crushed. Stir-fry 1 or 2 minutes;
then stir in the soy sauce, sherry and water and bring to a boil. Return
clicken, add the salt and sugar, and simmer as in steps 3 and 4 above.
5. During the last 20 minutes of cooking, add any of the following:
a. 6 eggs, hardboiled and shelled; increase the soy sauce (added in step
3) to 3/4 cup.
b. 4 bamboo shoots, cut in 1-inch sections; and 1 teaspoon sugar.
c. 15 to 20 dried black mushrooms (soaked); increase the soy sauce (added
in step 3) to 3/4 cup.
d. 6 dried black mushrooms (soaked); and 6 Chinese red dates.
e. 1-1/2 pounds string beans, stemmed and cut in 1-1/2 inch sections;
increase the soy sauce (added in step 3) to 3/4 cup.
f. 1 cup celery stalks, cut diagonally in 1-1/2 inch sections; 1 cup
cabbage, shredded; and 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced.
g. 1 cup dried black mushrooms (soaked); 1 cup bamboo shoots and 1/2 cup
water chestnuts, all sliced. Garnish in step 5 with shredded smoked ham.
6.  During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add 4 cups Chinese lettuce, cut
in 1-inch sections.
7. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add 1 small head cauliflower,
broken in flowerets and parboiled.
From <The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook>, ISBN 0-517-65870-4. Downloaded
from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, http://www.erols.com/hosey.

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