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simple hainanese chicken recipe

Hainanese Chicken Rice

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This iconic Singaporean dish features tender poached chicken paired with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and broth. The trio of dipping sauces—spicy chili, zesty ginger, and savory soy—allows for customized flavor in every bite, transforming humble ingredients into an extraordinary meal.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Singaporean
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole chicken preferably free-range
  • 3 cups long grain rice washed and dried
  • 2 tablespoons chicken fat with skin for rendering
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger smashed, for poaching
  • 2 cm piece ginger grated, for rice
  • 2 cm piece ginger for chili sauce
  • 75 g ginger for ginger sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves smashed, for poaching
  • 3 garlic cloves grated, for rice
  • 4 garlic cloves for chili sauce
  • 6 garlic cloves for ginger sauce
  • cups chicken stock reserved from poaching
  • 2 screwpine leaves optional, for fragrance
  • 10 fresh red chilies for chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice for chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice for ginger sauce
  • 5 tablespoons light soy sauce for chicken sauce
  • tablespoons sugar for chicken sauce
  • 1 tablespoon garlic oil for chicken sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil for chicken sauce
  • salt for various components
  • cucumber slices for garnish
  • fresh coriander leaves for garnish
  • sliced spring onions for garnish

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Rice cooker or pot
  • Blender

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt, a thumb-sized piece of smashed ginger, and 4-5 smashed garlic cloves.
  2. Gently lower the whole chicken into the pot and immediately reduce the heat. Poach uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let the chicken steep for another 20-25 minutes to continue cooking in the residual heat.
  4. Remove the chicken and plunge it into cold water for 5-6 minutes to achieve the distinctive gelatinous skin texture. Drain and set aside to dry before cutting.
  5. Reserve 3½ cups of the poaching liquid to use as chicken stock for the rice and sauces.
  6. For the rice, wash 3 cups of long grain rice and drain in a colander until dry.
  7. Heat 2 tablespoons of chicken fat with skin in a wok or pan. Add 2 tablespoons of water to help render the fat.
  8. Once the oil releases, add 2-3 cm of grated ginger and 3-4 grated garlic cloves. Fry until fragrant but not burned.
  9. Remove the spent chicken skin and fat pieces. Add the dried rice and 1-2 teaspoons of salt, stir-frying for 1-2 minutes.
  10. Transfer the rice mixture to a rice cooker or pot. Add 3½ cups of reserved chicken broth and screwpine leaves if using. Cook until the rice is fluffy.
  11. For the chili sauce, blend 10 fresh red chilies, a 2 cm piece of ginger, 4 garlic cloves, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of chicken stock until smooth.
  12. For the ginger sauce, blend 75g ginger, 6 garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon lime juice, and 2 tablespoons chicken stock until smooth.
  13. For the chicken sauce, combine 1 tablespoon garlic oil, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 5 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1½ tablespoons sugar, and 3 tablespoons chicken broth. Mix well.
  14. Slice the chicken into serving pieces and drizzle with the chicken sauce.
  15. Serve the chicken with the fragrant rice, all three dipping sauces, sliced cucumber, fresh coriander leaves, and spring onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcal

Notes

For the best results, use a free-range chicken as it provides superior flavor for this dish where chicken is the star ingredient. The chicken fat is essential for authentic flavor in the rice, but in a pinch, you can substitute with vegetable oil and a bit of chicken bouillon. If screwpine leaves aren't available, you can omit them or use a bay leaf instead.
This dish is traditionally served at room temperature or slightly warm, not piping hot. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days - store the chicken, rice, and sauces separately for best results.
For a complete meal, serve with a simple clear soup made from the remaining chicken broth, or add stir-fried greens like bok choy with oyster sauce.

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