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Cold Sesame Chicken
The cucumbers in this recipe are slightly crushed under the broad part of the blade of a knife. This breaks the skin of the cucumber creating a craggy surface to allow the hot sesame oil and dressing to seep in instead of slide off. Listen for the sizzle as the hot oil hits the cold chicken.
Ingredients: the vinaigrette
1/4 |
cup light soy sauce
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1 |
tablespoon lemon juice
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1 |
tablespoon rice wine or wine vinegar
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2 |
teaspoons sugar
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1 |
teaspoon whole peppercorns
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Directions: the vinaigrette
1. |
Mix the soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar and peppercorns in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for one minute and set aside.
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Ingredients: the chicken
4 |
cups water
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2 |
chicken breast halves, skin on (6-8 ounces each)
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3 |
slices of ginger, ¼ inch thick
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1 |
medium onion, sliced
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3 |
of English cucumbers (or one large cucumber, peeled and seeded)
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2 |
large tomatoes, cut into eighths
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5 |
scallions, finely chopped
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1/4 |
cup sesame oil
salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Large dish for serving |
Directions: the chicken
1. |
In a medium size pot, bring water, ginger and onion to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and add the chicken breasts. Cook for 15 minutes.
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2, |
Turn off the heat and let chicken sit in hot liquid for 10 minutes. When cool place chicken and stock in a bowl and refrigerate until chilled (at least one hour).
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3, |
Lightly scrape the skin of the cucumber with a paring knife.
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4, |
Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and then into 2-inch chunks.
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5, |
Place a chunk of cucumber under the broad part of a kitchen knife. With your fist, hit the top of the blade once, and crush the cucumber. Repeat with remaining pieces.
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6, |
On a large serving platter, make a layer of the crushed cucumbers.
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7, |
Remove the cold chicken from the stock and slice, skin side up, on a diagonal. Place on top of the cucumbers.
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8, |
Surround the chicken with the tomato wedges and top with scallions.
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9, |
In a stainless steel ladle or small pot heat the sesame oil on a low flame until bubbles appear - approximately one minute. Turn off the heat and pour the oil evenly over the scallions and chicken.
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10, |
Strain the soy vinaigrette and drizzle over the chicken and vegetables. |
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