In Vietnamese culture, boiling a whole chicken is a symbolic gesture of respect and devotion to the gods and ancestors. It is believed that this traditional dish also expresses the family’s wishes for a prosperous and bountiful year ahead.
As such, families take great care in selecting and preparing the chicken. The ideal presentation is a “fairy chicken” with its head raised, wings stretched out to the sides, and legs folded in a graceful pose. This posture is believed to represent the chicken’s reverence for its elders.
To help you prepare this special dish for the upcoming Tet holiday, Bếp Eva will share an incredibly simple method for boiling a “fairy chicken” that anyone can master.
Ingredients:
– Rooster (young): 1, weighing between 1.2 – 1.5 kg
– Rattan or nylon string: 1 strand
– Salt, lemon
How to Choose a Delicious Chicken for Worship
Unlike regular cooking, selecting a chicken for worship requires a meticulous process:
– Choose a young rooster that has not been castrated.
– Look for soft feathers, a bright red cockscomb, and no scars or deformities.
– The body should feel plump and not bony.
– The skin should have small pores, as this type of chicken will have taut and attractive skin after boiling.
– The breast should be full and round. A pointed breast indicates an underweight chicken, which is not ideal for ceremonial purposes.
Instructions for Boiling a Worship Chicken with Fairy Wings
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
– Rub salt and lemon on the surface of the chicken to effectively remove any unpleasant odors. Alternatively, you can use ginger water, but keep in mind that it may affect the taste of the broth and limit its use in other dishes.
– Gently squeeze the chicken’s head to remove any mucus, tongue residue, and throat mucus.
– Rinse the chicken with clean water. A helpful tip is to prop the chicken up while rinsing to ensure that all dirt and residue are removed.
– Clean the giblets (heart, liver, gizzard, etc.) as they are an important part of the ceremonial offering. Rinse the giblets under running water and set them aside to dry. Rub the heart and gizzard with salt before rinsing again.
Step 2: Tie the Chicken for Worship
– Soak the rattan in water to soften it, which will make it easier to tie the chicken.
– Place the chicken flat, lift its neck, and hold the wings in place.
– Use the soaked rattan to tie the wings and neck together, ensuring that the wings are fixed in a stretched-out position. Avoid tying the rattan to the cockscomb, as it will detract from the chicken’s appearance.
Step 3: Boiling the Chicken
– Not all pots are suitable for boiling chicken. Choose a deep pot that is just large enough to easily turn the chicken over.
– Fill the pot with cold water to about ⅔ of its capacity, place the tied chicken inside, and put it on the stove over high heat. Note that to ensure the chicken is cooked evenly, it should be placed upside down in the pot.
– Add ½ teaspoon of seasoning powder or a few grains of salt to the pot to enhance the flavor of the meat.
– Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add the giblets (heart, liver, gizzard, etc.) to the pot.
– Reduce the heat to low, allowing the pot to maintain a gentle simmer, and skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
– Let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes after the water has reached a rolling boil, then turn off the heat. For the chicken to be fully cooked, it should be soaked in the hot broth for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Step 4: Remove the Chicken
– Remove the chicken and giblets from the pot and place them in a bowl of cold water. This step ensures that the chicken’s skin remains crisp and golden, and the meat becomes firm.
Step 5: Decoration
– Use the chicken’s heart to wrap around the gizzard, creating a neat bundle.
– Place the bundle of giblets inside the chicken or next to it, whichever you prefer.
– Arrange the chicken on a plate and garnish with a red rose in its beak. Now you have a beautifully presented boiled chicken to offer during the New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, or gold-burning ceremonies during the Tet holiday.
We wish you success in preparing this simple boiled chicken with fairy wings for your Tet worship.
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