Strange Flavour Chicken

Step 2

For the Poached Chicken, place chicken, ginger, 6 spring onions and coriander into a large saucepan. Add salt and enough boiling water to cover the chicken. Simmer over very low heat for 45 minutes.

Step 3

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the peanuts and cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Step 4

Julienne the whites of the remaining 4 spring onions and set aside.

Step 5

Toast the sesame seeds in a small pan until golden and set aside.

Step 6

Take the whole chicken out from the pot after 45 minutes and plunge into salted ice water. Allow to cool.

Step 7

Remove chicken and debone the thighs and breast. Chop the two thighs and two breasts into 1 cm wide strips. Set aside.

Step 8

For the Spiced Soy, lightly crush the cardamom pod with a knife. Place onto a square of muslin along with the remaining spices and tie into a knot.

Step 9

Place into a small saucepan along with soy sauce and brown sugar and bring to a boil.

Step 10

Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard the spices and set aside to cool.

Step 11

For the Chilli Oil, toast the chillies in a small frypan over medium heat until fragrant and crisp. Transfer to a spice grinder and process until finely chopped without making a powder. Place into a heatproof bowl and add the sesame seeds and salt.

Step 12

Heat the oil in a small saucepan until smoking hot, about 200°C.

Step 13

Carefully pour one third of the hot oil over the chilli and stir immediately.

Step 14

After one minute, add another third of the oil and stir.

Step 15

After a further minute, add the remining oil and stir. Set aside.

Step 16

For the Strange Flavour Sauce, toast the Sichuan peppercorns until dark and fragrant. Grind to a powder using a mortar and pestle. Set aside.

Step 17

Toast sesame seeds in a small pan until golden brown. Transfer to a bowl.

Step 18

Add 4 tablespoons chicken poaching broth, sesame paste, vinegar, Spiced Soy, Chilli Oil, sesame oil, sugar and mix until combined. Add Sichuan pepper to taste and additional broth to achieve ideal consistency. Set aside.

Step 19

For the Smacked Cucumber, combine vinegar, Spiced Soy, Chilli Oil and minced garlic in a medium bowl.

Step 20

Cut the cucumber into 4 cm batons and smack them with a pestle or the back of a knife.

Step 21

Add to the bowl and toss gently to coat in the dressing. Garnish with sesame seeds and coriander leaves.

Step 22

To assemble, pile the strips of chicken into the centres of 4 shallow serving bowls. Pour the strange flavor sauce around and over the chicken and garnish with the fried peanuts, spring onions and toasted sesame seeds. Spoon over some more Chilli Oil and Spiced Soy to taste. Serve with Smacked Cucumber and remaining sauces on the side.