How to make delicious and simple steamed chicken with lotus leaves.

Ingredients for steamed chicken with lotus leaves

First and foremost, of course, you can't do without a whole chicken. You'll need a chicken weighing about 1,5kg - 2kg. Next, you'll need lotus leaves (2 leaves).

The accompanying ingredients include: Black fungus, dried lotus seeds, chopped shallots, chopped garlic, scallions, turmeric powder, honey, chili paste, fish sauce, and common seasonings such as salt, sugar, seasoning powder, MSG, and pepper...

How to choose fresh and delicious chicken: According to the experience shared by many people, to choose a good chicken, you must look at the condition and color of the chicken meat.

For example, if the chicken skin is shiny, has a natural pink color, or is thin and pale yellow, while the breast, wings, and back are slightly darker yellow, then it's definitely a good chicken. It's especially important to avoid meat with an unusual smell, discolored skin, or bruises.

To be sure, you should gently press the chicken to check its elasticity. Good chicken will have firm, not soft, meat. Conversely, if the chicken meat is too soft, it won't be tasty.

Making: Wash the chicken thoroughly, then rub it with coarse salt and lemon to remove any odor. After washing, let it drain.

Steamed chicken wrapped in lotus leaves should be left whole to retain its natural sweetness and tenderness, and it will have a richer flavor than if it were cut into pieces.

The prepared vegetables are washed and drained.

In a small bowl, combine chopped shallots, chopped lemongrass, oyster sauce, salt, pepper, seasoning powder, and a pinch of turmeric powder. After mixing well, apply the mixture to the inside and outside of the chicken.

Fresh lotus seeds, shiitake mushrooms, and the prepared vegetables are mixed together. Once mixed, the mixture is stuffed into the chicken's cavity.

To make the lotus leaves soft and prevent them from falling apart when wrapping the chicken, you can sun-dry them or microwave them for 2 minutes on medium power. Wrap the chicken in two lotus leaves and tie them securely with string.

Finally, add 1 liter of water to the steamer pot, place it on the stove over medium heat until boiling. Once the water boils, place the chicken in the steamer basket, cover, and steam for about 50-60 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

And that completes the steamed chicken with lotus leaves. You can dip the chicken in a mixture of salt, pepper, and lemon juice to enhance the flavor!