How to Make Whole Steamed Chicken with Lotus Leaves Delicious and Aromatic for the Family

How to Prepare Steamed Chicken with Lotus Leaves

• 1

  Prepare the Chicken

  For this steamed chicken with lotus leaves dish, ask the seller to clean the feathers and gut the chicken to stuff the filling inside.

  To eliminate the chicken’s odor, wash it thoroughly with water, then rub with 1 tablespoon of salt and rinse with clean water 2 – 3 times, let it drain or use a clean towel to dry it.

  Next, use a skewer or toothpick to poke holes around the chicken so that when marinating, the chicken absorbs the seasoning evenly.

  How to Clean Chicken Meat Properly, Without Odor

  • After rubbing with salt, you can use a mixture of alcohol and sliced ginger, crushing them while rubbing and squeezing the entire breast again to help eliminate odors and dirt. Rinse thoroughly and let it drain.
  • Alternatively, you can add lemon to the water and soak the chicken breast for 15 – 20 minutes. After that, take it out, rinse with cold water, and let it drain.

  

  
• 2

  Marinate the Chicken

  You marinate the chicken with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 2 teaspoons of pepper, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of chili paste, minced shallots, and minced garlic.

  You wear plastic gloves and rub the seasoning evenly both inside and outside the chicken, letting it marinate for at least 1 hour for the chicken to absorb the flavors.

  

  
• 3

  Prepare other ingredients

  Green onions cut off the roots, wash clean, and tie into bundles.

  Soak the wood ear mushrooms in a bowl of cold water for 1 – 2 hours to expand.

  After soaking the wood ear mushrooms, take them out and rinse several times with cold water until very clean, then drain and chop finely.

  How to properly soak dried wood ear mushrooms

  • You should only soak dried wood ear mushrooms for a maximum of 3 – 4 hours before cooking. Avoid soaking dried wood ear mushrooms for too long or overnight, as this can lead to the production of many toxins in the mushrooms, which are harmful to health.
  • Soak the mushrooms in cold water, not warm water, because although mushrooms expand faster when soaked in cold water, the morpholine in the mushrooms does not have much time to neutralize.

  Place a pot of water on the stove over medium heat, when the water boils, add the lotus seeds and boil for about 30 minutes until soft, then turn off the heat and drain.

  Tip:

  • Lotus seeds after boiling for 30 minutes will expand to twice their size, you can take one out to taste, and if it’s soft, it’s good to go.
  • When boiling lotus seeds, if the water runs low, you must add hot water, otherwise the lotus seeds will become tough and lose their deliciousness.

  

  
• 4

  Stuffing the filling

  You stuff the wood ear mushrooms and lotus seeds into the chicken’s belly, use a bundle of green onions to press down at the end and secure with a toothpick.

  

  

  

  
• 5

  Preparing Lotus Leaves

  To make the lotus leaves soft and not torn when wrapping the chicken, you can sun-dry them or microwave for 2 minutes at medium power.

  

  
• 6

  Wrapping and Steaming the Chicken

  If you have leftover mushrooms and lotus seeds, you can place them around the chicken, wrap the chicken in 2 lotus leaves, and use string to secure it.

  Add 1 liter of water to the steamer pot, place it on the stove, and heat over medium heat until boiling. When the water boils, place the chicken in the steamer and cover the lid, steaming for about 50 – 60 minutes until the chicken is cooked.

  

  

  

  
• 7

  Finished Product

  Steamed chicken with lotus leaves after steaming has a beautiful golden color from turmeric and honey.

  When eaten, the chicken is very delicious and chewy, blending with the fragrant taste of lotus leaves and the sweet flavor of lotus seeds. You can use salt and pepper with lime to dip the chicken to enhance the taste!