Three Cup Chicken

Three Cup Chicken is a fragrant and flavorful Chinese dish that highlights the harmonious balance of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. The tender chicken is infused with aromatic spices, making it a delightful high-protein meal perfect for lunch.

Ingredients

• Chicken thighs - 400 grams, boneless and skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Soy sauce - 60 ml
• Sesame oil - 30 ml
• Rice wine (Shaoxing wine) - 30 ml
• Fresh ginger - 15 grams, sliced
• Garlic - 4 cloves, minced
• Scallions - 2, chopped
• Thai basil leaves - 30 grams, or regular basil if unavailable
• Red chili - 1, sliced (optional for heat)
• Brown sugar - 1 tablespoon (15 grams)
• Water - 100 ml
• Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon (8 grams) for thickening

Steps

1. In a bowl, marinate the chicken pieces with soy sauce, rice wine, and brown sugar for 10 minutes.
2. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat and add ginger and garlic, sautéing until fragrant (about 1 minute).
3. Add the marinated chicken to the skillet and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Pour in the water and bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. After 10 minutes, uncover the skillet and let it simmer for another 5 minutes to reduce the sauce slightly.
6. Add sliced red chili, scallions, and Thai basil leaves, stirring to combine and cook for another 2 minutes.
7. If the sauce is too thin, mix cornstarch with a bit of water to create a slurry and stir it into the sauce, cooking until thickened.
8. Serve hot over rice or noodles, garnished with extra basil and scallions if desired.

Nutrition

• Calories: 400
• Protein: 30 g
• Carbs: 18 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Cholesterol: 120 mg
• Total Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Water: 0.2 L

Health Benefits

• High in protein, supporting muscle growth and repair.
• Contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties from ginger and garlic.

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