Chicken and Mushroom Clay Pot Rice

Step 1

Add the dried mushrooms, dried lily flowers, and dried wood ears to 3 separate bowls. (To measure the wood ears, fill a quarter cup measure halfway or measure by weight using the metric toggle below the ingredients list in the recipe card.) Cover with boiling water, and soak for 2 hours, or until rehydrated.

Step 2

Squeeze excess water out of the soaked shiitake mushrooms, trim away any tough stems, and cut them in half. Trim the tough ends off the soaked lily flowers, and cut them in half crosswise. Rinse the wood ears well of any dirt or grit, and trim away any tough parts. If they’re very large (larger than say, a half dollar coin or 3cm across), cut in half.

Step 3

Add the rehydrated mushrooms, lily flowers, and wood ears to a medium mixing bowl, along with the chicken, cornstarch, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and white pepper. Toss all the ingredients to combine, and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes (can do this up to 1 day in advance).

Step 4

Add the rice to the clay pot, and cover with 2 inches of water. Soak for 25 minutes, then pour off all the water (as best you can; leaving a little bit behind isn’t a big deal), and then add the 1 cup chicken stock (or water), salt, and oil. Mix well.

Step 5

Even out the layer of rice. Stir the chicken and mushroom mixture until the chicken has absorbed all of the liquid in the marinade, and distribute the mixture evenly on top of the rice.

Step 6

Sprinkle the julienned ginger and the white parts of the chopped scallion over the top, and cover the pot. Place over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, until the liquid in the pot is simmering. Then turn down the heat to the lowest setting. Cook for about 25 minutes (or 30 minutes for bone-in chicken), until the chicken and the rice are cooked through. Garnish with the green parts of the scallions and serve!