Prima Taste Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hands down, chicken rice is my absolute favorite food in the entire world. I can eat chicken rice every day. It's almost impossible to find decent chicken rice in Los Angeles, so I'm taking things into my own hands. I've experimented with many recipes but still can't figure out the correct way to make the rice part of chicken rice. Until I locate the perfect rice recipe, I'm turning to Prima Taste to satisfy my cravings.  


During her last visit, my lovely aunt Judy brought me boxes of the Hainanese chicken rice mix.  

The directions are pretty easy, and it even comes with the dark sweet soy sauce. 

It is essential to use the freshest free-range chicken you can find. I always go with Healthy Family Farms from the Sunday Hollywood Farmers' Market. Healthy Family Farms' chicken tastes like the way real chicken should, which is important when you're serving something as simple as poached chicken. 

My technique: 

1. Rub chicken with shaoxing wine and salt.

2. Stuff chicken cavity with scallions, knobs of ginger and smashed garlic cloves.

3. Bring a pot of water to boil.
4. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and submerge the chicken in the water. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. 

5. Remove cover and lift chicken out of the water. Make sure the water drains out of the cavities. Then submerge the chicken again, cover and let stand for another 15 minutes. 

6. Remove chicken from pot. Bring water back to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and submerge the chicken. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. 

7. Repeat step 5. 

8. Total "cooking" time should add up to about an hour.

9. Remove chicken from pot and dunk it into a bowl of ice water. Let stand for 5-10 mins. 

10. Remove from ice water and cut up chicken. 

11. Serve with soy sauce mixture (from the Prima mix) and sliced cucumbers. 

Enjoy! 

~Ray