Steamed Black Bean Chicken
Combine the ingredients, steam, and enjoy this easy, flavoursome Chinese-inspired Steamed Black Bean Chicken for dinner tonight
Video
Ingredients
- 500g / 1.1lb boneless and skinless chicken thighs (bite-sized pieces) (NOTE 1)
- 1 tbsp (15g / 0.5oz) salted or fermented black beans (finely chopped) (NOTE 2)
- 1 tsp (3g / 0.1oz) dried Mandarin or orange peel (finely chopped) (NOTE 3)
- 2 tbsp (20g / 0.7oz) finely sliced spring onions / scallions (more for garnish)
- 1 large red chilli (thinly sliced, more for garnish)
- 1 tsp peanut or vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tsp (5g / 0.18oz) minced ginger
- 1 tsp roasted sesame oil (NOTE 4)
- 2 tsp light or regular soy sauce (NOTE 5)
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (NOTE 6)
- 2 tsp Shaoxing wine (NOTE 7)
- 1½ tbsp cornflour or cornstarch
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Transfer the chicken into a shallow heat-proof bowl, then toss a few whole black beans on top. Place the bowl either in a bamboo steamer or in the steamer attachment of a sauc
- Fill the wok or saucepan with water, reaching 1/4 to 1/3 of its capacity, and bring it to a boil on high heat. Lower the heat to medium-high and position the steamer above the wok. Cover and steam for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with sliced chillies and spring onions, then serve with steamed rice.
Notes
(NOTE 1) Boneless and skinless chicken thighs - Chicken thighs are juicier and less prone to drying out when cooked because of their higher fat content compared to breasts. In saying this, you could swap for breast meat if preferred.
(NOTE 2) Salted black beans (fermented black bean) are made by salting and aging the beans to develop a complex and deep savoury flavour. You can find vacuum-sealed packets of salted black beans at Asian grocers. These beans are worth sourcing as the flavour is unmatched compared to any kind of black bean sauce. However, if these beans aren't unavailable, substitute with 1 tbsp of black bean sauce.
(NOTE 3) Dried Mandarin peel is the dehydrated outer skin of the Mandarin orange fruit. Found and used in many Chinese dishes. You can find dried Mandarin or orange peel at Asian grocers or if you can't find any, just omit it from the recipe.
(NOTE 4) Roasted sesame oil has a strong aroma with a roasted nutty flavour and smell, it's also has a dark colour. Sesame oil is available in the international or cooking oil section of supermarkets, or purchased in Asian grocers.
(NOTE 5) Light soy sauce is a savoury condiment commonly used in Asian cuisine. It has a rich, umami flavour and is often used as a seasoning or dipping sauce. Opt for light or regular soy sauce, as dark or sweet soy sauces aren't interchangeable.
(NOTE 6) Oyster sauce - Despite its name, oyster sauce doesn't have a strong oyster or fishy flavour. Oyster sauce adds a depth of flavour to dishes and has a rich, savoury and slightly sweet flavour profile. Find oyster sauce by looking in the international section at a supermarket or visit an Asian grocer.
(NOTE 7) Shaoxing cooking wine is a Chinese cooking wine, also referred to as Shao Xing or Shao Hsing. It's widely used in Chinese cuisine to enhance the flavours of various dishes. Shaoxing cooking wine is made from fermented rice. You can find reasonably priced bottles of Shaoxing wine at Asian specialty stores, and some supermarkets carry them too. Mirin or dry sherry are good substitutes for Shaoxing wine.
Leftovers - Allow the steamed chicken to cool completely at room temperature, then transfer it into a sealed container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I've used a third-party application to calculate the calories and nutritional information, so please use this as an approximate guide only.
Cooking measurements are in Australian standard spoon and cup measurements. For specific details and conversions, visit our Australian Cooking Measurements page.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 21gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 680mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 258IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg