Braised Chicken with Oyster Sauce and Mushrooms

Steps

▶ Tap a timecode to jump to roughly that moment in the video.

1. 1
   Prepare aromatics: Soak 30g dried shiitake mushrooms in 200ml water until soft, keeping the soaking liquid. Slice about 30g ginger. Cut chili peppers into pieces. Crush garlic cloves. Slice garlic shoots on the diagonal.
   ▶ ≈1:30
2. 2
   Prepare vegetables: Halve green and red bell peppers, remove the core and white membrane, then cut into irregular chunks. Slice king oyster mushrooms thickly and score the surface with a crosshatch pattern.
   ▶ ≈2:04
3. 3
   Heat a pot over medium heat with oil. Add ginger slices to the cold pot and fry slowly until the edges curl and release fragrance.
   ▶ ≈3:20
4. 4
   Add chicken legs and stir-fry. Sprinkle in a little sugar, then pour in soy sauce and half of the Shaoxing wine, stirring well to coat the chicken evenly.
   ▶ ≈3:40
5. 5
   When the sauce is mostly absorbed, add chili peppers, garlic cloves and garlic shoots, stir-frying to release aroma. Then add the mushrooms and stir well.
   ▶ ≈4:11
6. 6
   Sprinkle with five-spice powder or white pepper, pour in the remaining Shaoxing wine, then add the oyster sauce and stir to coat everything evenly.
   ▶ ≈4:27
7. 7
   Arrange the chicken in the pot, pour in the mushroom soaking liquid, and cover. Reduce heat to low and braise for 10-15 minutes.
   ▶ ≈4:43
8. 8
   During braising, let the alcohol evaporate slightly, then add about 200ml hot water to cover the chicken halfway.
   ▶ ≈4:59
9. 9
   Uncover the pot and add the scored king oyster mushroom slices one by one, stirring to coat them in the sauce. Continue cooking uncovered until the mushrooms are fully flavored.
   ▶ ≈5:25
10. 10
    Once the mushrooms are flavored, add the prepared peppers. You may blanch them briefly in oil first to preserve color, then stir briefly.
    ▶ ≈5:59
11. 11
    Mix cornstarch slurry (5g cornstarch with 50ml water). Slowly pour into the pot on the side while stirring to thicken the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning.
    ▶ ≈6:21
12. 12
    Gently fold in all vegetables to combine. Serve the entire pot at the table for family-style dining, spooning the rich sauce over hot rice.
    ▶ ≈6:44