• Jul 27, 2023
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Taiwan-Style Three Cup Chicken

Craving for an exotic, flavorful, yet easy-to-make dish at home? Try our recipe for the famous Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken! This iconic dish, known as San Bei Ji in Mandarin, is loved for its rich, aromatic, and slightly sweet sauce made with three key ingredients - sesame oil, Chinese rice wine, and soy sauce, hence the name 'Three Cup'.

• 9 ingredients
• 55 minutes
• 4 Servings

Ingredients

1.5 lbs (680g) of chicken, cut into pieces
1/3 cup sesame oil
1/3 cup Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing wine)
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
6-8 cloves of garlic, peeled
1 piece of ginger, sliced
2-3 fresh Thai chili peppers (optional, for heat)
1 handful of fresh Thai basil leaves

Directions

1. In a large pan or wok, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté until they're fragrant and starting to brown.
2. Add the chicken to the same pan or wok, browning it on all sides. This should take about 5-10 minutes.
3. Once the chicken is browned, add the rice wine, soy sauce, and sugar to the pan. Stir everything together and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and let everything simmer for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure the chicken is cooked evenly and the flavors are well combined.
5. After 30 minutes, the sauce should be thickened and the chicken tender. If you'd like a thicker sauce, you can increase the heat and reduce the sauce further at this point.
6. If you're using chili peppers, add them to the pan now. Stir in the fresh Thai basil leaves just before serving.

Notes

Quality Ingredients: This dish has a relatively simple ingredient list, so the quality of each ingredient really matters. Try to source the freshest chicken, basil, and other ingredients you can find.

Type of Chicken: You can use any part of the chicken for this recipe, but bone-in, skin-on pieces will give the most flavor. Chicken thighs and drumsticks are often used.

Adjusting Saltiness: If you find the dish too salty, consider using less soy sauce or adding a bit of water to the recipe.

Searing the Chicken: Browning the chicken well before adding the sauces will create a layer of flavor, so don't rush this step.

Adding Basil: The Thai basil should be added just before serving as high heat can cause it to lose flavor. If you can't find Thai basil, Italian basil can work as a substitute, although the flavor will be slightly different.

Adding Heat: If you enjoy spicy foods, don't hesitate to add the chili peppers. However, you can also omit them if you prefer a milder dish.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with steamed rice and a side of vegetables for a balanced meal.

Marinating: For an even deeper flavor, consider marinating the chicken in the soy sauce, wine, and sugar for an hour or two before cooking.

Nutrition Detail