The dishes made from chicken are incredibly diverse and attractive, from fried dishes, grilled dishes to braised dishes. Today, let’s cook with TasteVN to make 2 recipes for fragrant braised chicken and rich, delicious mushroom stew, to change up the family meal!
1. Braised Chicken with Mushrooms
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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Braised Chicken with Mushrooms For 3 people
Chicken thigh quarter 1 piece Dried shiitake mushrooms 3 pieces Fresh shiitake mushrooms 5 pieces Young corn 4 ears Carrot 40 gr Minced garlic and onion 1 tablespoon Minced ginger 1 tablespoon Seasoning powder 2 teaspoons MSG 1 teaspoon Soy sauce 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Sugar 2 teaspoons
How to choose delicious shiitake mushrooms
For dried shiitake mushrooms
Choose ones that are firm, not broken, bright in color, and without white mold spots. You should buy from reputable sources to ensure safety.
For fresh shiitake mushrooms
- Choose those with vibrant colors, a characteristic aroma, moderate caps, tightly curled, and slightly yellow-brown in color.
- Select mushrooms with a firm stem, uniform color, and if the mushrooms are open, the gills should be arranged in even, beautiful, and dry layers.
- Avoid mushrooms that are bruised, have a rancid smell, or are slimy. If you see mushrooms that are dark brown, do not buy them, as they may be poisonous.
Note: If you do not like shiitake mushrooms, you can replace them with other types of mushrooms that are similarly firm and chewy, such as wood ear mushrooms, termite mushrooms, chicken thigh mushrooms, straw mushrooms,…
-800x450-1.jpg "2 Simple Ways to Make Chicken Braised with Mushrooms and Pineapple, Rich in Flavor That Everyone Will Savor 3")
How to cook Chicken braised with mushrooms
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Preparation and marinating chicken
Wash the quarter chicken legs with diluted salt water or rub lemon on the chicken meat to eliminate odors. Then rinse with clean water.
Use a knife to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and make shallow cuts on the chicken to allow the marinade to seep in better. Marinate the chicken with 2 teaspoons of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and onion, and 1 tablespoon of minced ginger.
Toss well and marinate the chicken for 10 – 15 minutes to allow it to absorb the seasonings.
Note: If you have time, you can marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator for better flavor absorption!
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Preparation of mushrooms and vegetables
Peel the carrot, wash it clean, cut into slices about 2cm thick, and shape it into flowers for a nice look. Wash the young corn, cut diagonally in half.
Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water for about 30 minutes, then remove and rinse, rubbing the mushrooms under running clean water multiple times to remove sand, cut off the stems of the mushrooms.
Fresh shiitake mushrooms should be washed clean and cut in half.
Note: You can wash fresh shiitake mushrooms with rice water to eliminate the strong smell of the mushrooms and help them retain their natural flavor.
Tip for soaking dried shiitake mushrooms to soften quickly and clean sand
- It is advisable to soak shiitake mushrooms in water for at least 8 hours or overnight for even expansion.
- After soaking, rinse the mushrooms under clean running water multiple times to completely remove sand and dirt.
- It is recommended to cut off the mushroom stems as they are quite tough and will not taste good when eaten.
- When soaking, add a little salt to help easily remove dust and dirt, while ensuring the mushroom stems are submerged in the water.
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Cook the caramel sauce
Place a pot or pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Use chopsticks to stir constantly over medium heat to prevent the sugar from burning.
Stir continuously until the sugar melts and achieves a beautiful golden brown color.
Note when making caramel
- It is advisable to use a thick-bottomed metal pan or pot with a light color for better visibility of the color and to prevent the sugar from burning.
- You can use palm sugar instead of granulated sugar to make a sweeter caramel sauce.
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Stewing chicken
When the caramel sauce has reached a beautiful color, add the chicken and stir well to coat the chicken evenly with the caramel sauce. Continue to add the dried shiitake mushrooms and stir until the chicken and mushrooms are seared.
Add 1 cup of water to the pot, then add the prepared vegetables, mixing well to allow the ingredients to absorb the seasoning.
Stew the chicken over low heat until the sauce thickens and reduces, then turn off the heat to finish.
Note: It is best to add the vegetables after the chicken and dried shiitake mushrooms have seared and are slightly cooked to ensure that the meat and vegetables cook evenly, keeping the vegetables fresh, crisp, and sweet.
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Final Product
The mushroom chicken stew features tender chicken, fresh crunchy vegetables, chewy shiitake mushrooms, and a rich seasoning sauce. Eating it with a bowl of hot rice is simply delightful!
If you like it spicy, you can add some finely chopped chili to the pot to enhance the dish’s flavor.
2. Fragrant Chicken Stew
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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Braised Chicken with Pineapple Serves 3
Chicken 500 gr Pineapple 1/2 fruit (dứa/khóm) Pineapple juice 1 cup (dứa/khóm) Green onion 4 stalks Chopped chili 1 teaspoon Chopped garlic 2 tablespoons Soy sauce 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 3 tablespoons Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Sugar 2 tablespoons Salt 1 teaspoon Pepper 1 teaspoon
How to choose fresh and delicious pineapple (dứa/khóm)
- Choose pineapples that have a natural yellow color, even from the base to the tip, round and short fruit will have more flesh and higher sweetness.
- Choose pineapples with large eyes, the more spaced out the better, which will give thick flesh and are naturally ripe, not soaked in chemicals.
- Avoid choosing pineapples that are uneven in color, have dark brown spots or yellowish-red shades as they are overripe.
- Choose pineapples that feel firm when touched, with smooth skin, and do not dent when pressed with a finger are fresh and tasty.
- If you smell the aroma of naturally ripe fruit, you should buy it, avoid those with a slightly sour smell like fermentation as they are overripe.
Note: You can buy a pineapple and juice it at home, or buy it pre-made to save time.
See more: 6 benefits of pineapple juice, how to make and store pineapple juice
-800x450.jpg "2 Simple Ways to Make Chicken Braised with Mushrooms and Pineapple, Rich in Flavor That Everyone Will Savor 19")
How to Cook Fragrant Braised Chicken
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Prepare and Marinate the Chicken
Wash the chicken with diluted salt water or rub it with lemon to remove the odor, then rinse with clean water and let it drain.
Use a knife to chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then marinate the chicken with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground pepper, mix well and let it marinate for 10 – 15 minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the spices.
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Prepare Other Ingredients
Wash the scallions and cut them into sections.
Cut off both ends of the pineapple, then stand it upright and peel off the outer (orange) skin. Then, place the knife at an angle and make diagonal cuts on both sides of the eyes to remove the pineapple eyes.
Continue doing this until all the pineapple skin is removed, wash it clean, and then cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Then, marinate the pineapple with 1/2 tablespoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for 5 – 10 minutes to reduce its sourness and make the dish tastier.
Note: You can ask the vendor to peel the pineapple for you to save time!
See more: 5 simple ways to peel a pineapple easily without taking much time
Sauté chicken
Put a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. When the garlic is golden and aromatic, add the chicken and stir-fry on high heat.
Season the chicken with: 1.5 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of minced chili, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, then stir well to let the chicken absorb the seasoning.
Cook chicken with pineapple
Stir the chicken for 5 minutes until it tightens, then continue to add the pineapple juice, cooking together on medium heat for 25 minutes.
Then add the chopped pineapple, stir well for another 10 minutes, then add the scallions and turn off the heat to finish.
Note: For this stew, do not cook until the liquid is thick, just cook until the liquid covers the chicken, as this sauce will be very delicious when served over rice!
Finished product
Fragrant stewed chicken with tender and delicious chicken meat along with a sweet and sour aroma, incredibly stimulating to the taste buds!
How to choose fresh and delicious chicken
For live chickens
- The comb should be bright red, and the feathers should be shiny.
- The anus should be pink, with no unusual discharge.
- The legs should be slender, evenly yellow, and not wrinkled.
- When you part the feathers, the skin should be thin and soft; gently squeeze the body of the chicken to feel firmness, not flabbiness, and there should be some large yellow spots under the breast and wings. Under the wings and in the armpits, you should see meat; blood vessels indicate that the chicken is firm and not fatty.
- The chicken’s crop should not be tight, indicating a healthy chicken.
For processed chickens
- Choose chicken that looks fresh, with no foul or strange smell; the skin should not have any bruising or discoloration, and avoid selecting dark-colored chickens, as they are likely to have died before processing.
- To avoid buying water-injected chickens, press on the suspected areas (mainly thighs and breasts) to check; if they feel mushy, slippery, or misshapen, do not buy.
- If you see yellow skin and white fat underneath, it is certain that the chicken has been dyed and should not be purchased.
- If you want to choose good native chicken, select pieces with thin, light yellow skin, smooth texture, high elasticity, and only dark yellow in certain areas like the breast, wings, and back; the body should be compact and firm, with a narrow breast.
- For frozen chicken in supermarkets, check for a reputable origin and usage date on the packaging to ensure quality.
How to clean chicken meat so it is fresh and odor-free
- To keep chicken from smelling, you need to remove all feathers, including fine down feathers, to make the chicken white, clean, and less odorous.
- Mix vinegar and salt in a ratio of 2:1, then apply it all over the chicken, rubbing it several times, and then rinse thoroughly with clean water or rub lemon and salt on the chicken skin, or use a bit of ginger and white alcohol to rub on the chicken to eliminate odors.
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Above are 2 ways to make mushroom chicken and fragrant chicken that are tender and delicious for family meals. Let’s make this dish right away, wishing you success!
*Refer to images and recipes from 2 YouTube channels: Mon Ngon Moi Ngay and Mai food haven
