Boiled chicken is a must-have dish for the Lunar New Year feast. During this festive season, boiled chicken offered as a sacrifice is often tied with a wing fairy and presented whole, making it aesthetically pleasing. While boiled chicken is a familiar dish, not everyone knows how to boil a sacrificial chicken to ensure its skin remains intact and turns a golden yellow.
Many people wonder how long it takes to boil a sacrificial chicken. In reality, the boiling time for any chicken, whether for daily consumption or as an offering, is crucial. If you’re boiling chicken for your daily meal, a slight crack in the skin may not be an issue, but if it’s for a sacrifice, improper boiling times can lead to unsightly cracks.
So, how long should you boil a sacrificial chicken, and how do you ensure it turns a golden yellow without cracking the skin? Check out the following method shared by Mr. Mai Van Kha from Ho Chi Minh City:
Preparation:
– One ready-to-cook rooster, turmeric, ginger wine, dried shallots, seasoning powder, and salt.
Chicken Preparation:
– After purchasing the chicken, clean it by rubbing it with a mixture of salt and ginger wine to remove any unpleasant odors. Rinse it again afterward. Use a small skewer to create a wing fairy.
The wing fairy is secured with a small bamboo skewer.
– To ensure a beautiful boiled chicken, use a pot large enough to completely submerge the chicken. Place the chicken in the pot along with a few slices of dried shallots and ginger, and season with a bit of seasoning powder and salt. Make sure the chicken is positioned upright and not tilted.
Boiling Time for Chicken:
– Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil for 5 minutes for chickens weighing between 1 to 2 kilograms. For chickens weighing 2.5 to 4 kilograms, boil for 7 to 10 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and let the chicken soak in the hot water for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
– For older chickens, from the moment the water boils, calculate 15 minutes of gentle boiling.
Achieving a Golden Yellow Color:
– While waiting for the chicken to cook, prepare the turmeric mixture. Crush three fresh turmeric roots and mix them with four tablespoons of cooking oil. Heat the oil on low heat until the turmeric turns crisp. If the chicken has excess fat, you can use that instead of oil. This method will give the chicken a beautiful golden color.
Doing this will give the chicken a beautiful golden color.
– After the chicken is cooked, soak it in cold water for 5 minutes.
– Remove the chicken from the water and pat it dry with a clean towel. Then, use a cooking brush or a piece of paper towel dipped in the turmeric oil to apply a thin layer of the mixture onto the chicken to enhance its golden color. If the chicken has been fed corn for a long time, you can skip this step as these chickens naturally have a beautiful golden color.
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Tips for Choosing a Sacrificial Chicken: – For Roosters: – When buying a rooster, pay attention to the color of its comb. The redder the comb, the better the chicken will taste. – A good rooster should feel heavy and firm when held. – The feathers should lie close to the body and have a certain sheen. – Look for small legs with evenly yellow skin and short spurs. Avoid chickens with long spurs, as these are older birds that tend to be tough and chewy when boiled. – Delicious roosters also have a yellow streak under their breasts and wings. Don’t forget to check the chicken’s crop; a soft crop indicates a healthy bird. – For Hens: When choosing a hen, look for similar characteristics as the rooster. – A bright red comb that stands upright is a good sign. – Smaller legs and longer beaks indicate a tastier bird. – If you’re opting for a “range hen,” pay attention to its beak. These birds tend to have worn-down beaks from constantly foraging for food. – A hen that has started laying eggs will have a larger crop. If you prefer unlaid hens, look for smaller crops. If you’re buying a pre-butchered chicken, check for meat elasticity. Avoid chickens with strange odors or skin discoloration, such as black spots, bruising, or blood pooling… According to experienced home cooks, when buying a pre-butchered chicken, inspect the neck area. A shiny, bruise-free neck indicates a healthy bird. |
Good luck, and happy cooking!
