Steamed chicken with hot and sour dressing

This Kylie Kwong recipe was in an old issue of BBC Good Food. We must have it at least once a fortnight. I love the flavours , colours and textures on offer and what makes it even better is that it’s health and goodness on a plate. The prep can be a bit tedious (which may give you an indication of how lazy I am), but it can all be done in advance.

You will need:

400g chicken-thigh fillet

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ bunch coriander, sprigs picked

Dressing:

2 tbsp finely chopped coriander stem

1 green onion, finely sliced

5 cm piece ginger, julienned

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 ling red chilli, finely sliced

2 ½ tbspn soy sauce

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1tsp cane or brown sugar

1 tsp sesame oil

2 tbsp peanut oil

Make the dressing first by combining all of the ingredients except the peanut oil. Heat the peanut oil until smoking then carefully pour it over the dressing to release the flavours. Stir to combine then set aside.

Place the chicken in a single layer bamboo steamer, cover and steam for 13-15 mins, until chicken is cooked through.

Kylie says:

When the chicken is cooked through, cut diagonally into 1 cm slices, arrange chicken on a platter and spoon over the dressing. Drizzle with olive oil and top with coriander.

I say:

Line a platter with brown rice, cut the chicken diagonally into 1cm slices and arrange it over the rice. Spoon the over the dressing. Then sprinkle julienned carrots, (deseeded) cucumber and quartered cherry tomatoes over the chicken. Drizzle with olive and top with coriander.

NB: If your steamer fits atop a saucepan, I’d recommend boiling some brown rice and putting the steamer on top for the final 15 mins, but pierce the baking paper a couple of times. It is a less traditional steam, but the chicken juices flavour the rice in a stock-like way that is truly delicious.

My kids aren’t really up for the potent dressing, so for them I simply dress the steamed chicken with soy sauce and serve it with the rice and vegetables. They really enjoy it which makes me very happy.