Ingredients
- 1/2 chicken
- about 1 3/4 pounds
- 1/4 pound smoked ham
- preferably Chinese or Smithfield (see note)
- 10 thin slices fresh ginger
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup dry Sherry or Shao Hsing wine
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- if desired
- 20 pork won ton (see recipe)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions or green onions
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons corn
- peanut or vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Bring enough water to the boil in a kettle to cover the chicken.
- Add the chicken and cook about one minute.
- Drain thoroughly.
- Put the chicken skin side up in a heavy soup bowl with a lid.
- Cut the ham into wide, thin slices.
- Cut each slice into rectangles measuring about one-and-one-half by three inches.
- Arrange the slices slightly overlapping on top of the chicken.
- Scatter the ginger pieces around the chicken.
- Add the four cups of water, wine and salt.
- Select a large, deep pan in which the soup bowl will fit comfortably or use a steamer with a rack in which the bowl will fit.
- Cover the soup bowl with a tight-fitting lid or with aluminum foil.
- If a pan is used, place a wire rack on the bottom.
- Place the bowl on the rack and pour water into the pan or steamer to a depth of about one or two inches.
- Cover the pan or steamer closely with a lid and bring the water to the boil.
- Steam the mixture for two hours, replenishing the water as necessary.
- Remove the chicken.
- Meanwhile, cook the won ton.
- Drain and add the won ton to the liquid in the soup bowl.
- Heat thoroughly.
- Combine the chopped scallions or green onions and chopped ginger in a small heat-proof bowl.
- Set aside.
- Combine the soy sauce, vinegar and sugar in another bowl.
- Heat the two kinds of oil in a wok or skillet.
- When it starts to smoke, add this immediately to the ginger and scallion or green onion mixture.
- Add the soy sauce mixture and stir to blend.
- Serve the won ton with equal portions of the soup.
- Let guests serve themselves the chicken, shredding it as desired with chopsticks or forks and dipping it in the sauce.
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