Shantung Chicken

I'mPat's Note:

From the Australian Women's Weekly New Asian cookbook - this sounds so good and reasonably easy to make. Times at this stage are estimated and does not include overnight refrigeration time.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 garlic clove (crushed)
• 10 g fresh ginger (2cm piece grated)
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon dry sherry
• 2 teaspoons szechuan peppercorns (crushed)
• 2 teaspoons peanut oil
• 1 5⁄8; kg whole chickens

Shantung Sauce

• 1⁄3; cup caster sugar (75 grams)
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 fresh red Thai chile (chopped finely)

Directions:

1. Combine garlic, ginger, sauce, sherry, pepper and oil in large bowl; add chicken, coat in marinade and cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Next day - preheat oven to 220C/200C fan forced (430F/390F fan forced).
3. Half fill a baking dish with water and place an oiled rack over the baking dish and place the chicken on the rack.
4. Roast the chicken uncovered for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or until cooked through (I would keep an eye on the water level and possibly replentish if looking at drying out).
5. While the chicken is cooking make the shantung sauce - Combine sugar and the water in small saucepan, stir over low heat until sugar dissolves and bring to a boil and let boil for about 5 minutes (uncovered) WITHOUT STIRRING until sauce thicken slightly.
6. Remove from the heat and stir in vinegar and chilli.
7. Remove chicken from the oven, when cool enough to handle, remove bones and chop meat coarsely and serve drizzled with the shantung sauce (do a gentle reheat of sauce if required).

Reviews

[gus65]

Made this for the family and it was great, sauce was a little too sweet and it needs more than 1 chilli for my liking.

[Gerry]

The Szechuan lovers here enjoyed this delicious chicken. My search for the Szechuan peppercorns had me find a blend just a touch different than what I had on hand - I suspect either blend would work well. Remains I will keep a eye out for the Szechuan Peppercorns for the next time around. Made for Auz/NZ Swap.

[NorthwestGal]

Everyone in my family loved the chicken. It was so tasty, so moist, and so tender---all elements that make it a huge hit in my household. You can bet I will be making this dish quite often. Unfortunately, I messed up the sauce (because I got distracted and it cooked to a hard, carmelized blob...oops.) So I am looking forward to making this again, so I can actually try the sauce, too! But even without the sauce, the chicken alone was well worth trying. Made for "Please Review My Recipe" tag game.