bon appetite: Day 39 ... Hainanese Chicken Rice

Sunday, 8 August 2010

Day 39 ... Hainanese Chicken Rice

Today is Michael's birthday.

We are cooking Hainanese Chicken Rice for dinner. Another one of Bryan's specialty. So no prizes for guessing who is the Head Chef. Michael arrives 15 minutes late. He is supposed to be here by 5pm. Says he had to pump petrol. Okay, we believe him. Let him off easy because caught sight of the cake from Secret Recipe in his hand. Oh goody! Dinner wouldn't be complete without a cake. Chill out a bit with an ice-cream stick. Chit-chat in the living area until Bryan announces at 6 pm that, It Is Time ... So, into the kitchen, we go. Birthday Boy is not spared.

Mike is responsible for preparing the shallots and garlic,

and brown the shallots. Handles his tasks seriously. No mistakes. :D

Bryan takes care of the chicken.

Rubs seasalt all over and

seals it with sesame seed oil.

The chicken is placed on a metal stand in the pressure cooker

above the rice grains that has been stir-fried with

shallots, garlic and ginger.

A cube of no-msg chicken stock, seasalt

and the appropriate amount of water is added

before the lid is closed and fire turned on.

The Birthday Dinner is finally ready.

Chicken dish, the rice, the beansprouts and daikon soup,

along with chilly sauce and other condiments.

Every dish is just - Perfect!

Close-up. The rice is moist and simply tasty and could be eaten on its own. Sunflower seeds and sesame seeds are sprinkled on top. See the green sambal? Tastes really good, and goes well with the chicken rice. Tauge is blanched with shoyu and drizzled with sesame seed oil. Crisp and crunchy.