Eight Treasure Gourd Chicken is a typical Fujian cuisine known for its exquisite shape and rich stuffing. This dish is made from a whole deboned chicken shaped like a gourd, filled with delicacies such as bamboo shoots, chicken liver, shiitake mushrooms, and lotus seeds. Not only is it visually appealing and elegant, but it also offers a rich taste and high nutritional value.
Ingredients
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Main Ingredients
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1Deboned tender hen
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Auxiliary Ingredients
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50 g Bamboo shoot dice
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As needed Chicken liver dice
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As needed Shiitake mushroom dice
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50 g Cooked lotus seeds
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50 g Cooked pork tripe dice
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50 g Fresh shrimp meat dice
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As needed Chicken gizzard dice
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25 g Dried scallops
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Seasonings
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As neededMSG
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As neededFine salt
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As neededSuperior stock
Cooking Instructions
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1
Prepare ingredients.
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2
Prepare all diced ingredients like bamboo shoots, chicken liver, and shiitake mushrooms, blanch them in boiling water, then remove and drain.
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3
Place the blanched ingredients into a container, add fine salt and MSG, and mix well.
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4
Stuff the mixed diced ingredients into the cavity of the deboned chicken.
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5
Seal the opening and blanch the stuffed chicken again in boiling water, then remove.
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6
Starting from beneath the wings, use garlic leaves to tie the chicken into the shape of a gourd and place it in a container.
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7
Add superior stock, fine salt, and MSG to a pot, dissolve, and pour into the container holding the gourd chicken.
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8
Place the container in a steamer and steam for 2 hours.
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9
Once steamed, remove, untie the garlic leaves, and it’s ready to serve.
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10
Tips:
❖ The deboning technique is crucial for this dish; it is essential to keep the chicken skin intact and avoid any tears.
❖ The blanching step is vital to maintain the freshness and cleanliness of the filling.
❖ Pay attention to the water level and steaming time to ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked and flavors are well absorbed.