Emily Carter
Steaming chicken is a great way to cook the meat without adding any extra oil, resulting in a juicy and tender dish. It is a versatile technique that can be used to prepare chicken for salads, sandwiches, and wraps, or as a filling for tacos, burritos, and lettuce wraps. While steaming chicken may not be a common method of cooking it, it is popular in Asian cuisine. You can steam chicken on the stove by placing it in a steamer basket or pan over a pot of boiling water. The chicken can be seasoned with salt beforehand, and aromatics such as lemongrass can be added to the boiling water for extra flavour.
How to Steam Chicken on the Stove:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Chicken, salt, vegetable oil, onion, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, cilantro, lemon, olive oil |
| Utensils | Saucepan, steamer basket, skillet, bowl, plate |
| Method | Rub salt into chicken, refrigerate for 30 minutes, rinse, place in steamer basket over saucepan of boiling water, steam for 30 minutes, heat oil in skillet, cook onion and garlic, stir in soy sauce and sesame oil, spoon sauce over chicken, garnish with cilantro |
| Tips | Use a heavy pot, steam with sake, white wine or water, add aromatics to the water, remove skin before steaming, shred chicken after steaming |
| Serving Suggestions | Serve with rice, steamed vegetables, avocado dip, herb sauce |
| Storage | Refrigerate leftovers and consume within a couple of days |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Preparing the chicken
Next, season the chicken. One option is to rub salt into the chicken fillets, place them in the refrigerator for half an hour, and then rinse the salt off. Another option is to rub in cooking sake, which will add flavour to the dish. You can also experiment with other seasonings like thyme, ginger, fennel, or white wine.
Now, you're ready to steam the chicken. You can use a steamer basket or pan over a pot of boiling water, or try steaming the chicken in an oven or baking pan. If you're using a pot, fill it with enough liquid to almost reach the steamer or colander but not quite. If you're using an oven, preheat it to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and wrap the chicken in plastic wrap, covering the plastic wrap with aluminium foil to prevent melting.
Place the chicken in the steamer or colander, cover, and steam for around 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear. If you're using an oven, steam until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Measuring Shredded Chicken: Packed vs Loose
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Setting up the steamer
To steam chicken on a stove, you will need a steamer basket, a saucepan or pot, and a lid. You can also use a colander if you don't have a steamer basket.
First, fill the saucepan or pot with water. If you're using a steamer basket, fill the saucepan or pot with water to just below the bottom of the steamer basket. If you're using a colander, fill the pot with enough liquid to almost come up to the bottom of the colander but not quite.
If you want to infuse your chicken with extra flavour, you can add aromatics such as lemongrass to the water. You can also briefly steam the chicken in white wine, sake, or water, which will prevent it from drying out.
Place the steamer basket or colander into the saucepan or pot. If you're using a steamer basket, make sure it's secure and stable.
Now, you can add the chicken to the steamer basket or colander. It's recommended to rub the chicken with salt before steaming, as this adds extra flavour, although you will need to rinse the salt off the chicken before steaming.
Ideal Internal Temperature for Juicy Chicken
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cooking the chicken
To cook the chicken, start by placing the chicken and a cup of salt in a bowl. Rub the salt into the chicken and place it in the refrigerator for half an hour. After 30 minutes, rinse the chicken thoroughly under running water to remove the salt.
Next, prepare your steaming setup. If you have a steamer basket, place it into a saucepan and fill it with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. If you don't have a steamer, you can create your own setup by using a large pot with a tight-fitting lid and placing a colander inside. Alternatively, you can use a baking pan with a cup of water and cover it with aluminum foil.
Place the chicken into the steaming setup. If using a steamer basket, ensure that the water level is below the basket. Bring the water to a boil, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. The liquid should barely boil. For a whole chicken breast, steam it in the marinade over low heat to keep it moist. You can also add aromatics, such as lemongrass, to the boiling water for extra flavor.
Let the chicken steam for around 30 minutes or until the juices run clear when tested. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the steaming basket and plate it. You can squeeze fresh lemon juice and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the chicken if desired.
Popeyes Chicken: Still in Universal City?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Making the sauce
There are several ways to make a sauce for steamed chicken. One simple option is to squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken, along with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. You can also add some pepper if you like.
Another option is to make a sauce with onions, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil. First, heat some vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add some chopped onion to the skillet and cook until it becomes tender and translucent (about 3 to 5 minutes). Then, add some garlic to the skillet and cook for another minute, stirring regularly. Finally, stir in some soy sauce and sesame oil, then remove the skillet from the heat and spoon the sauce over your steamed chicken.
If you're looking for something a little more adventurous, you could try making a sweet, spicy chilli paste to spread over your chicken before steaming. Alternatively, you could steam your chicken in white wine, sake, or water, and then use the residual heat to reduce a teriyaki sauce to coat the chicken.
Panera's Southwest Chicken Bowl: Worth the Hype?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Serving suggestions
Steamed chicken is a popular dish in Southeast Asian countries, where it is typically served with chicken rice. It is also common to serve steamed chicken with an onion and soy sauce, ladled over the chicken, and scattered with cilantro leaves.
Steaming chicken is a great way to keep the meat moist and juicy, and it can be served with a variety of sides and in a variety of ways. For example, steamed chicken can be served with steamed vegetables or atop creamy Alfredo pasta.
If you are looking for a one-pot meal, steamed chicken can be baked with rice in a steam oven. This can be served with a mango and chilli chutney, or a yoghurt and chilli sauce.
For a more western take on steamed chicken, you can serve it with roasted vegetables, such as chunky-cut vegetables roasted at the same temperature and time as the chicken.
Finally, steamed chicken can be used as an entree, or as a protein boost in salads, casseroles, and soups. It can also be served with steamed kale and baby potatoes, and marinated with citrus juices, salt, garlic, and soy sauce.
Chicken Smells From the Freezer: What's Normal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You will need chicken, salt, a stove, a pot, a steamer basket, and water.
Steam the chicken for about 30 minutes or until the juices run clear.
The liquid should barely boil. Steam until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place chicken and salt in a bowl. Evenly rub salt into the chicken. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Rinse chicken and place into the steamer basket.
