During the ancestral and spiritual ritual feasts on full moon days and the first day of the month, boiled chicken is one of the not-to-be-missed dishes. Because of its special importance, boiled chicken is also carefully prepared. To have a delicious and beautiful dish of boiled chicken for the ancestral altar on the full moon day of the Lunar month, you can refer to these “tips”.
How to choose good chicken
– The chosen chicken for the ritual is usually a rooster of moderate weight and size. The reason for this is that too large or too small chickens will make the family altar unbalanced and unattractive, and their meat is usually not tasty. Therefore, you should buy roosters weighing from 1.2kg to 1.5kg after being cleaned.
– You should choose roosters that are agile, with shiny red feathers, tight skin, and a sleek and firm body. Especially, you should choose those roosters with a full breast but not too large, as the skin on the back, wings, and breast will be darker than other parts. Particularly, you should avoid buying chickens with dark, pale, rough, or black spots on the skin.
– When bringing live chickens home, you should untie them and let them roam in the cage for a few hours before slaughtering them so that the chickens can move comfortably, allowing blood circulation and dissipation of bruises and congested blood. Thanks to this, when boiling, the chicken’s legs will not turn dark and unattractive.
Secrets to make the boiled chicken tasty and beautiful
– Depending on the size of the chicken, you should choose a suitable pot, not too large or too small compared to the chicken. If the pot is too small, the chicken may tear the skin by sticking to the sides and will not be evenly cooked because it is difficult to handle. Meanwhile, boiling in pots that are too large will make the broth less tasty and take more time.
– You should pour enough water to submerge the chicken and put the chicken in the pot when there is still water left. You should not wait until the water boils to put the chicken in because it will cause the chicken skin to tear and the meat will not be cooked in time. Additionally, you should place the chicken with the belly down and the back on top so that the meat can cook from the inside out and not turn dark.
– To remove the distinct smell of chicken and add more sweetness to the broth, you can add some slices of ginger, salt, and dried onions to the pot.
– During the boiling process, you should set the stove to medium heat and “carefully observe”. When you see the water start to boil and it is not yet boiling rapidly, you should lower the heat and use kitchen utensils to remove the impurities. Although it is just a small step, it will prevent the chicken from having dark or mottled spots on the skin.
– Continue boiling the chicken for about 8 to 10 minutes, then take it out and place it in a pot of boiling water to cool, with some ice cubes. This method will make the chicken’s skin bright and moist even after being placed on the ancestral altar for a long time.
– If you want the chicken to have a golden, shiny, and beautiful skin that is not inferior to those bought outside, you can wait until the chicken is dry (after being soaked in ice water) and then rub a little turmeric water mixed with chicken fat on the chicken’s skin.
How to Select the Best Tasting Chicken – Fresh or Pre-Prepared?
Do not let the wrong chicken ruin your Tet dishes! Selecting the right chicken for your dishes is essential for a successful celebration.
7 Delicious Vegetarian Rice Dishes to Celebrate July’s Full Moon Easy to Make at Home
Celebrate the full moon in July with these delicious 7 trays of vegetarian rice offering! With simple and easy to make recipes, you can create the perfect rice tray at home.
Celebrating Vietnam’s Thanh Minh Holiday with Traditional Cuisine
The annual celebration of T?t Thanh Minh is a time for the Vietnamese people to revere their ancestors. An important part of this holiday are the traditional dishes, such as sticky rice and boiled chicken, which have been enjoyed for generations.
Secrets to Cooking Delicious and Beautiful Boiled Chicken
During Tet holiday, it is a tradition to have boiled chicken as an offering to our ancestors and also as a delicious dish to serve guests. Boiling chicken is not difficult, but to have a chicken that is both tasty and visually appealing requires some special tips and tricks.
Should boiled chicken be chopped or kept whole in the refrigerator?
There is a common belief that leftover boiled chicken can simply be stored in the refrigerator and consumed gradually over time. However, if not properly preserved, the chicken will quickly turn bad.
