In the fast-paced life of office workers, sometimes the most precious thing during Tet (Lunar New Year) isn't a lavish feast, but a dish that's just delicious enough, yet light enough, for the whole family to enjoy and chat with each other for a longer time.
A plate of American chicken steamed with salt and basil is a unique choice for the Tet (Lunar New Year) feast – rich, warming, and perfectly balanced. American chicken thighs are marinated and steamed over a layer of coarse salt, preserving their moisture and natural sweetness. The mild saltiness blends with the distinctive aroma of basil leaves, creating a tender, fragrant, and well-rounded dish that offers a unique highlight amidst the many familiar Tet dishes.
How to do it:
Ingredients for American chicken:
- 1000g American chicken drumstick meat
- 20g peeled garlic
- 20g shallots
- 15g chili peppers
- 50g of basil leaves
- 2g ground pepper
- 10g Seasoning Powder
- 5g MSG
- 3g Salt
- 500g coarse salt
- 3 stalks of lemongrass
- 2 chili peppers
- 2 shallots
- 10g Ginger
How to prepare the Salted Basil Sauce:
● 100g Fish Sugar
● 100g Lime juice
● 20g Seasoning Powder
● 50g Filtered Water
● 5g Salt
● 30g green chili peppers
● 20g green bell peppers
● 30g Leaves
● 5g Green peppercorns
Add granulated sugar, lime juice, seasoning powder, water, and salt to a pan and bring to a boil until all the spices are dissolved. Let cool. Blend together with green chili peppers, green bell peppers, basil leaves, and green peppercorns in a blender. Finished.
American chicken preparation method:
Chicken marinade ingredients: Blend 20g peeled garlic, 20g shallots, 15g chili peppers, 30g basil leaves, 2g ground pepper, 10g seasoning powder, 5g MSG, and 3g salt.
Wash the American chicken thighs, make a few light cuts on the skin, and let them drain. Marinate them with 100g of the above chicken seasoning mixture for 20 minutes.
Lemongrass is cut into 5cm pieces, shallots are cut in half, and ginger is sliced.
Steaming chicken: Prepare a pot of water and add the ingredients in the following order: coarse salt, lemongrass, ginger, shallots, chili peppers, and chicken. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and place a lid on the stove. Steam for 25 minutes. Done.
Served with: Salted basil sauce, cucumber, and pickles.
