Soy Sauce Chicken
Before diving into the savory world of soy sauce chicken, let’s chat about what brings out the dish’s intense flavor. While soy sauce chicken is a star on its own it plays well with various sides and drinks.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 200 kcal
- 1 whole chicken around 4 pounds; preferably organic, free-range, and never frozen
- 10 cups filtered water
- 1 ½ cups naturally brewed soy sauce
- 1 ¼ cups dark soy sauce
- 1 ½ cups Chinese rose wine Mei Gui Lu or Shaoxing rice wine
- 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 tablespoons for balance
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons neutral cooking oil
- 7 slices fresh ginger root
- 2 scallions cut into 3-inch sections and lightly smashed
- 3 whole star anise pods
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves garlic lightly crushed
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Step 2: Make the Marinade
In a large bowl, combine the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rose wine, sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. This mixture will serve as both a marinade and a cooking broth.
Step 3: Marinate
Place the chicken in a large resealable bag or container. Pour the marinade over it, ensuring the chicken is fully immersed. Seal the bag or cover the container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best for maximizing flavor.
Step 4: Prepare for Cooking
Step 5: Heat the Oil
In a large pot, add the neutral cooking oil and heat it over medium-high. Once it's hot, add the ginger, scallions, star anise, cinnamon stick, and garlic. Sauté until fragrant—this should take about a minute.
Step 6: Brown the Chicken
Next, place the marinated chicken into the pot, skin side down. Sear on medium heat for about 5 minutes, allowing the skin to develop a golden-brown color. Flip it over gently using tongs.
Step 8: Check for Doneness
- Quality Matters: Use high-quality soy sauce. The flavor of your chicken depends on it. Look for brands that are naturally brewed.
- Don’t Skip the Resting Time: Allowing the chicken to rest before slicing helps it retain moisture. Believe me, it’s worth the wait!
- Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter flavor profile, just increase the sugar in your marinade slightly.
- Braising Liquid: Save the braising liquid! It tastes incredible drizzled over rice or veggies.
- Cooking Vessel: A heavy-bottom pot, like a Dutch oven, distributes heat evenly and keeps the moisture locked in.
Calories: 200kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 22gFat: 8gSodium: 750mgSugar: 3g
Keyword Soy Sauce Chicken