Recipes

Sesame Oil Chicken (Ma You Ji)

  • Serves

    serves 4

CHRISTIE JOHNSTON

Mild and faintly sweet, Chinese rice wine is the standard cooking liquid and sauce for this staple Taiwanese dish.

Ingredients

  • 13 cup black Asian sesame oil
  • 4 (1⁄2") pieces ginger, peeled and smashed
  • 1 (3–4 lb.) chicken, cut into 16 pieces
  • 2 cups Chinese cooking wine, usually labeled michiu
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Cooked rice or cooked somen noodles, for serving

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oil in 10" skillet or wok over high heat. Add ginger and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken and toss to coat with the oil; cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Using tongs, remove breast meat only from wok and transfer to a plate; set aside.

Step 2

Add wine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add reserved breast meat; cook 15 minutes more. Season with salt; transfer chicken and pan juices to a serving bowl; serve with rice or noodles.

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