Three Cup Chicken

Sometimes for dinner you just want something effortlessly delicious, flavorful yet uncomplicated. That’s when you make Three Cup Chicken. Named for the Chinese cooking technique that braises meat in a sauce with equal “cups” of oil, soy sauce and rice wine, this Taiwanese specialty delivers on pure poultry pleasure with bonafide umami depth.

Deceptively quick and easy to prepare, this iconic dish entices with glistening dark brown, sweet and salty chicken rich with heightened savory impact. Broiling the chicken seals in juices but provides texture contrast over traditional poaching. A fragrant sauce coats the bird featuring classic Asian flavors—sesame oil, ginger, garlic and scallions. Gentle braising then allows all the components to blend seamlessly in under half an hour from start to finish.

Discover just how obscenely moist, tender and infused with finger-licking flavor humble chicken transforms thanks to the magic alchemy of three cup braising. Dinner ready quicker than takeout delivers, this is about to become your new midweek lifesaver.

Ingredients:
Serves 4

• 2 1⁄2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 5 slices ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1⁄3 cup soy sauce
• 1⁄3 cup Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 1⁄3 cup water or chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• Cooked rice, for serving

Let’s uncover the magnificence of ordinary chicken hidden in plain sight!

Instructions

1. Preheat the broiler, positioning the oven rack 6 inches below the heat source. Season chicken all over with salt and pepper.

2. In an ovenproof 12-inch skillet, heat 2 Tbsp oil over medium-high. Brown chicken skin-sides down, 8 to 10 minutes without moving until skin crisps and releases easily.

3. Flip chicken and broil until lightly charred, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

4. Carefully pour off all but 1 Tbsp fat from skillet. Return to medium-high and add ginger, garlic, scallions. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

5. Whisk in soy sauce, wine, water, remaining oil. Bring to a boil.

6. Nestle chicken into the sauce mixture along with any juices from the plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes until chicken is very tender.

7. Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Simmer sauce 2 minutes until glossy and thickened. Pour over chicken and serve with rice.

Serving Ideas:

Make it a complete meal by pairing 3 cup chicken with:

• Steamed bok choy drizzled with oyster sauce
• Quick kimchi or pickled daikon radish
• Roasted broccoli
• Brown or cauliflower fried rice

Garnish chicken with:

• Sliced scallions and chili flakes
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Fresh cilantro

However you choose to complement this lustrous sauced chicken, its luscious texture and finger-licking savoriness courtesy of three cup braising seals the deal on a supremely gratifying dinner any night of the week.