Baked Soju Basil Chicken

Happy Valor Day! Spending the day with the family at home with just a few options on the freezer to cook since we'll only do market day by tomorrow. So, i've got a whole chicken and was wondering what i can do with it. Thought of doing a home-made baked chicken and browsed through some option from my cook book. I got to a chinese recipe but the recipe needed white wine and green onions... but I dont have them on the shelf! Luckily, I have soju - which might give me a new flavor! and I can make some use of all the basil plants we have here so i got some basil leaves (really fresh - straight from the plant box). If you want to grow your own basil leaves, I just asked my first root of basil from the market - the market guy happily gave me some basil roots when I asked and now I have lots of them here at home! Maybe I can share you some also! So, here's to our BAKED SOJU BASIL CHICKEN! Cheers! ... a perfect dish to celebrate valor day!

Ingredients

1 pc          whole chicken (1.2 - 1.5 kilos)

Seasonings:
3 tbsp      fresh basil leaves (chopped)
3 slices     ginger (minced)
2 tbsp      soju (korean distilled beverage)
1 tbsp      salt
1 tbsp      black peppercons
1 tbsp      olive oil

Procedure:
1.) Clean chicken thoroughly, rinse several times and then wipe/pat it dry. Pierce the thick part of chicken with a fork, such as legs and breast.
2.) Mix together the seasoning (chopped fresh basil leaves, minced ginger, soju, salt, black peppercorns and olive oil)
3.) Rub the seasoning all over the chicken and marinate for 6 hours. Stuff the seasoning into the belly cavity.
4.) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius, place chicken on a tray and cover with foil. Put to oven and bake for 30 mins, then turn the chicken over and bake for another 30 mins. Increase the temperature to 250 degrees celsius and place the chicken with breast side up brushed with some olive oil to color the chicken) and bake for another 15-20 minutes.
5.) Garnish with some fresh basil leaves and Serve!

Cheers and Enjoy! :)


Procedure w/ Photos:

1.) Clean chicken thoroughly, rinse several times and then wipe/pat it dry. Pierce the thick part of chicken with a fork, such as legs and breast.

2.) Mix together the seasoning (chopped fresh basil leaves, minced ginger, soju, salt, black peppercorns and olive oil)

3.) Rub the seasoning all over the chicken and marinate for 6 hours. Stuff the seasoning into the belly cavity.

4.) Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius, place chicken on a tray and cover with foil. Put to oven and bake for 30 mins, then turn the chicken over and bake for another 30 mins. Increase the temperature to 250 degrees celsius and place the chicken with breast side up brushed with some olive oil to color the chicken) and bake for another 15-20 minutes.

5.) Garnish with some fresh basil leaves and Serve!

You can opt to drink the rest of your soju bottle with this now!

Cheers and Enjoy! :)

Dory Fillet in Lemon Thyme

This is an easy recipe you can prepare during the holy week :) You can also try it with pangasius steak cuts - which is the same meat as your dory fillets.

Ingredients:
1 kilo      Cream Dory Fillet (approx 3 fillets)
1/2 cup   Olive oil
2 pcs.      Lemon
4 tbsp      Thyme (dried) - available in McCormick or 6 Tbsp of Fresh Thyme

Procedure
1.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit. Season the fish on both sides with a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat one fourth of the olive in a skillet, preferrably non-stick, and cook the fish fillets over mediujm heat briefly on both sides - remove it as soon as the out part turns white.
2. Transfer the fish into an oven proof dish. Cut one lemon into wafer thin slices. Squeeze the juice of the other lemon on the fish. Place  the wafer thin lemon slices on top of the fish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. While waiting for the fish to be cooked, heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet and add the thyme and a little seasoning. Turn off heat and set aside.
4. Tranfer the cooked fish to plates and pour the cooking juices into the herb oil. Heat in low fire for a few seconds then pour th herb oil over the fish. Serve Immediately.

Enjoy it while it's hot and the texture of the fish is at its best! :)

Stir-Fry Minced Chicken with Cashew

A chicken breast recipe you can cook in a simple kitchen outside your home with just pots, pans and stove! My friend – Ria B. (Events & Marketing Specialist) – is travelling with her family to Baguio this weekend and requested for a chicken breast easy recipe idea which she can cook for her family to enjoy! You can also send in your requests with your specifications through eleonorgo@gmail.com! We can craft a menu together for your next get together J Hope to hear to from you.

Ingredients:

500 grams            Chicken Breast (Boneless and Skinless, diced into 2cm pcs)

4 tbsp                    olive oil

2/3 cups                Cashew Nuts (Cooked and Ready to Eat)

½ pc.                      Green bell pepper, diced by 2cm

½ pc                      red bell pepper, diced by 2 cm

2stalks                   green onions, cut into 2 cm length

6-8 slices              gingers, cut into 2 cm length

Marinade

1 tbsp                   soy sauce

2 tbsp                   water

½ tbsp.                 cornstarch

Seasoning

1 tbsp                   soy sauce

½ tbsp.                 wine (optional)

½ tsp                     sugar

¼ tsp                     vinegar

3 tbsp                   water

Few drops of sesame oil

Procedure;

1.)    Mix ingredients for the marinade

2.)    Marinate Chicken for atleast 30 mins

3.)    Heat olive oil and stir-fry ginger slices and green onions. When fragrant, add green and red bell pepper, stir-fry for awhile.

4.)    Stir-Fry chicken until it turns just white and add in seasonings, soy sauce, wine, sugar, vinegar, 3 tbsp water and few drops of sesame oil.

5.)    Add in Cashew Nuts and Stir-fry over high heat until thoroughly mixed. Serve Hot! J

Serves 4

Chinese Style Steamed Chicken

This is actually a very simple recipe for your chicken breast. It’s low on calories as we steam it to its right texture and it’s easy. You can combine any vegetable to your liking but we love broccoli here and it’s very popular accompaniment for Chinese Style dishes. 

Ingredients:

4 pcs.                     Chicken Breast (Boneless and Skinless)

4 pcs                      Garlic cloves (minced)

1 tsp                      Ginger (minced)              

2 tbsp                    Soy sauce

1 tsp                      chili red pepper flakes

500 grams            Brocolli heads, cut into florets

Procedure:

1.) Fill the bottom part of your steamer with 1 inch of H20 and bring to a boil.

2.) Coat your chicken breasts with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chili red pepper flakes.

3.) Place chicken in the steamer basket and pour in all remaining soy sauce mixture from the coating.

4.) Reduce heat to a simmer and cover.  Steam for  5 minutes.

5.) Turn Chicken Breast and place in your broccoli florets, cover and continue steaming until chicken is cooked through and broccoli is tender. 5-6 minutes more and Serve! J Here goes you healthy Chinese dinner! J

Serves 4