Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)

Chinese dish ready in 96 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Jump to Recipe
Prep
36m
Cook
1h
Total
1h 36m
Servings
2
Difficulty
Easy
Spice
1/5
Cuisine
Chinese

IngredientsWhat you'll need for Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)

Ingredient Amount
chicken legs 2 as needed
dried shiitake mushrooms 10 as needed
green pepper 2 as needed
potato 2 as needed
cooking wine 2 tbsp
rock sugar a small handful
oyster sauce 3 tbsp
light soy sauce 2 tbsp
dark soy sauce 2 tbsp
chicken bouillon 1.5 tbsp
bay leaf 1 as needed
white pepper 1 tbsp
sugar 1 tbsp
five-spice powder 0.5 tbsp
ginger powder 1 tbsp
ginger 3 slices
dried chili / chopped chili to taste
garlic 4 cloves
  • chicken legs2 as needed
  • dried shiitake mushrooms10 as needed
  • green pepper2 as needed
  • potato2 as needed
  • cooking wine2 tbsp
  • rock sugara small handful
  • oyster sauce3 tbsp
  • light soy sauce2 tbsp
  • dark soy sauce2 tbsp
  • chicken bouillon1.5 tbsp
  • bay leaf1 as needed
  • white pepper1 tbsp
  • sugar1 tbsp
  • five-spice powder0.5 tbsp
  • ginger powder1 tbsp
  • ginger3 slices
  • dried chili / chopped chilito taste
  • garlic4 cloves

Cooking StepsHow to cook Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice) step by step

  1. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 1

    Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water. Wash them a few times first, as the soaking water will be used later.

  2. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 2

    Cut chicken legs into large pieces, rinse clean, and soak in cold water for 1 hour.

  3. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 3

    Add all marinade ingredients to the soaked chicken: light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, white pepper, ginger powder, oyster sauce, and five-spice powder. Marinate for 30 minutes.

  4. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 4

    The marinated chicken should be evenly colored.

  5. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 5

    All ingredients ready for a group photo!

  6. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 6

    Cut potatoes into irregular chunks and rinse to remove starch. Cut green peppers into pieces. Halve the dried mushrooms. If you like it spicy, prepare some chopped chili or dried chilies. Smash the garlic.

  7. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 7

    Heat oil in the wok.

  8. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 8

    Add potatoes and stir-fry briefly — this makes them more fragrant. Remove once lightly colored and set aside.

  9. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 9

    Add rock sugar to the remaining oil. Keep the heat low!

  10. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 10

    Caramelize the sugar but don’t let it go too far or it will be bitter. When large bubbles form, quickly add the chicken.

  11. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 11

    Stir-fry over high heat until evenly colored.

  12. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 12

    Add ginger, garlic, chili, and bay leaf. Stir-fry until fragrant.

  13. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 13

    Add cooking wine to deglaze and remove any gamey smell.

  14. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 14

    Add oyster sauce.

  15. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 15

    Add light soy sauce.

  16. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 16

    Add white pepper.

  17. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 17

    Add dark soy sauce for color.

  18. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 18

    Add sugar to taste.

  19. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 19

    Stir-fry evenly, then add the dried mushrooms.

  20. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 20

    Pour in the mushroom soaking water — it must cover the chicken. If not enough, add boiling water. Add enough liquid at once; more broth means more flavor.

  21. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 21

    Bring to a boil over high heat, skim the foam, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 40 minutes.

  22. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 22

    After 40 minutes, add the potatoes and cook for another 25 minutes.

  23. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 23

    Switched to an enameled cast iron pot for better reduction. You don’t have to, but enameled pots make braised dishes more fragrant.

  24. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 24

    Add chicken bouillon for extra umami.

  25. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 25

    Add green peppers and cook for 3 minutes only — any longer and they’ll lose their bright color.

  26. Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)
    Step 26

    Serve straight from the pot!

Huang Men Chicken Rice (Braised Chicken with Rice)

Chinese dish ready in 96 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Ingredients

  • 2 as needed chicken legs
  • 10 as needed dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 2 as needed green pepper
  • 2 as needed potato
  • 2 tbsp cooking wine
  • a small handful rock sugar
  • 3 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1.5 tbsp chicken bouillon
  • 1 as needed bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp white pepper
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 0.5 tbsp five-spice powder
  • 1 tbsp ginger powder
  • 3 slices ginger
  • to taste dried chili / chopped chili
  • 4 cloves garlic

Instructions

  1. Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water. Wash them a few times first, as the soaking water will be used later.

  2. Cut chicken legs into large pieces, rinse clean, and soak in cold water for 1 hour.

  3. Add all marinade ingredients to the soaked chicken: light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, white pepper, ginger powder, oyster sauce, and five-spice powder. Marinate for 30 minutes.

  4. The marinated chicken should be evenly colored.

  5. All ingredients ready for a group photo!

  6. Cut potatoes into irregular chunks and rinse to remove starch. Cut green peppers into pieces. Halve the dried mushrooms. If you like it spicy, prepare some chopped chili or dried chilies. Smash the garlic.

  7. Heat oil in the wok.

  8. Add potatoes and stir-fry briefly — this makes them more fragrant. Remove once lightly colored and set aside.

  9. Add rock sugar to the remaining oil. Keep the heat low!

  10. Caramelize the sugar but don’t let it go too far or it will be bitter. When large bubbles form, quickly add the chicken.

  11. Stir-fry over high heat until evenly colored.

  12. Add ginger, garlic, chili, and bay leaf. Stir-fry until fragrant.

  13. Add cooking wine to deglaze and remove any gamey smell.

  14. Add oyster sauce.

  15. Add light soy sauce.

  16. Add white pepper.

  17. Add dark soy sauce for color.

  18. Add sugar to taste.

  19. Stir-fry evenly, then add the dried mushrooms.

  20. Pour in the mushroom soaking water — it must cover the chicken. If not enough, add boiling water. Add enough liquid at once; more broth means more flavor.

  21. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim the foam, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 40 minutes.

  22. After 40 minutes, add the potatoes and cook for another 25 minutes.

  23. Switched to an enameled cast iron pot for better reduction. You don’t have to, but enameled pots make braised dishes more fragrant.

  24. Add chicken bouillon for extra umami.

  25. Add green peppers and cook for 3 minutes only — any longer and they’ll lose their bright color.

  26. Serve straight from the pot!

Recipe Details

Common Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, this dish actually improves after resting as flavors meld. Refrigerate for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop.

How can I make this spicier?

Add chili oil or chili crisp to taste, or include dried red chilies during cooking. A dash of Sichuan peppercorn adds a different kind of heat.