Not-So-Perfect Smoked Chicken


I've flipped over the Stewed and Smoked Chicken recipe from one of my favourite cookbooks, Sensational Braised & Stewed countless times but I couldn't bring myself to try it. The thought of spending hours preparing the ingredients, and the subsequent stewing and smoking process was just too daunting. But the recipe was also a page in the book that I visited again and again, gawking at the beautifully smoked chicken and wondering how the taste would be.

I've finally mustered my courage to make a go at the recipe. First of all, I have to source for the ingredients for stewing. There are lots of chinese herbs in the list, with names like 沙姜, 草果, which I haven't heard of before, let alone knew how it looks like. Anyway, I managed to get all the herbs from a chinese medicine hall and I was ready to start!

The chicken was stewed over low heat, in a pot with chinese herbs, Shaoxing wine, rock sugar, light soy sauce and a few slices of ginger. After the chicken was cooked, it was taken out of the
pot and that's when I accidentally tore some parts of the skin. I was quite disappointed that the chicken would not look as good as it should be, but I still have to proceed with the smoking process.

Setting up the wok involved layering the base with a piece of aluminium foil; then spreading around foil with1/2 cup of cooked rice, brown sugar and some oolong tea leaf; and finally placing a rack in it. The chicken was then placed on the rack, covered and it was smoked over high heat. A few minutes into the smoking process, the whole house was filled with smoke, I got panicky and I stood by the stove, watching the wok the whole time. I know this sounds silly but I was afraid that the wok might catch fire!

This was how it turned out, a not-so-perfect smoked chicken, with torn skin. The taste of herbs was strong which I think it's ok, but I'll definitely reduce the amount of herbs if I were to make my second attempt. In the mean time, let me spray some air freshener to get rid of the smell from the smoke!

Comments

Tummythoz said…
I say ur chicken looked delicious!
shaz said…
In my opinion, it looks amazing!!
Anonymous said…
ooh...how it glistens!
Gene Lim said…
wow is one good and yummy looking chicken! u have whooped up my appetite dear! i am droooling rite now..slurrp
boo_licious said…
piggy - it still looks great! If we could make chooks like these all the time, I am sure KFC will be out of bizness as this is more finger licking good.
it looks great! looks perfect to me! :)
Piggy said…
Thanks, guys! ;-)
Anonymous said…
hi piggy, thx for dropping by. i love yr blog, u hv amazing photography skills! im gonna link u. can i? =)
Anonymous said…
For me it really looks delicious! Don't be hypercritic with yourself.
Piggy said…
Hi Evan,

Thanks. You can link to my blog, of course! :-)

Hi Claudia,

Thanks for dropping by and your kind words... :-)
Wow...Pigg... this is my 1st time dropping into your blog.. and i loves all those beautiful pics that you had... and all those delicious food.......Keep It up...
Babe_KL said…
wow the chicken look so plump and yummy. if i ever attempt to make this i think i need to remove my smoke detector first :p
Anonymous said…
hi hi,

The chicken that u hv done looks fabulous. can i request for the receipe?
My email address is chan_csf@yahoo.com.sg
Anonymous said…
looks good! reminds me of my mom's tea leaf smoked duck.. ehhahah!
SILVIA said…
Hi Piggy,
Your blog is awesome! Your smoke chicken is perfect for me. You are really a great cook!Will you post the recipe for this smoke chicken? thanx ;)