Taiwanese 3 Cup Chicken

Name: Taiwanese 3 Cup Chicken
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 tbsp sesame oil; 3 garlic cloves (sliced); 1 cm ginger (sliced); 1 dried red chilli (chopped) (optional); 600 g (1.3 lb) Chicken thigh fillets; 1.5 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp dark soy sauce; 1.5 tbsp shaoxing wine; 1 tsp brown sugar; cup Thai basil (washed)

Asianfoodadventure.com @cook_5554520

London

The history of 3 cup chicken goes way back to the 13th century when the Mongolians conquered China. There was this guy called Wen Tian Xiang and he was known to be a hero of the Southern Song Dynasty (1236 AD - 1283 AD). Wen was captured and was to be excuted. One of the prison officer at the place where Wen was being held was from the same province as Wen and he also admired him as well. So he cooked 3 cup chicken for Wen's last meal.

The dish made it's way to Taiwan via the Hakkah people who were escaping China at this time. It was the Taiwanese who localised the original three ingredients with 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup wine and 1 cup sesame oil. I can't find what was the quantity of chicken used. But I'm guessing it would be one whole chicken.

Asianfoodadventure.com @cook_5554520

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Ingredients

2 tbspsesame oil
3garlic cloves (sliced)
1 cmginger (sliced)
1dried red chilli (chopped) (optional)
600 g (1.3 lb)Chicken thigh fillets
1.5 tbspsoy sauce
1 tspdark soy sauce
1.5 tbspshaoxing wine
1 tspbrown sugar
cupThai basil (washed)

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Steps

1

01. Add the sesame oil and fry the garlic, ginger and chillies on medium heat for a few minutes
2

02. Add the chicken and ensure it is covered with the oil and cook until it is browned on all sides
3

03. Add the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, wine, sugar and give it a good stir
4

04. Lower the heat and simmer until the sauce has reduced (approx 15 mins)
5

05. Add the basil and cook for a further few minutes
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06. Serve immediately