This Steamed Chicken uses Golden Needle Vegetables, Cloud Ear Fungus and Chinese Dried Mushrooms.
Golden Needle Vegetables (written as 金針菜 in Chinese) , or better known as "gum jum" in Cantonese. Although it has the word vegetable in its name, it is not vegetable but is the edible species of a flower’s bud (Lily Flowers).
Like most dried foods, dried golden needle vegetables need to be steeped in water before use. I usually soak them for about half an hour to one, after which dirts will easily be released from the dried flowers. But it is still better to rinse them under running water after steeping and before squeezing excess water from them. You can also read more details from Taste HongKong.
Another ingredient used in this recipe is Cloud Ears Fungus (pronounced as Wan Yee in Cantonese). Cloud ear is an edible fungus used primarily in Asian cuisine. Sold in dried form and need to be soak as well before use. After soaking, trimmed of the tough, gritty part where it was attached to the wood. Delightful in salads, soups and stir-fries, it has no flavour of its own, but absorbs the seasonings it is cooked with. It is prized for its slightly crunchy texture, rich in dietary fibre, hence improve your digestive system and high in iron content.
Ingredients : (serves 2)
250g Chicken Meat (I used 2 chicken wings & 1 thigh)
15pcs Golden Needle Vegetables- soaked
4pcs Red Dates (seed remove)
1pc Chinese Dried Mushroom - soaked & thinly sliced
1pc Cloud Fungus - soaked & thinly shredded
1 tbsp Ginger (shredded)
Marinate:
1 tbsp Water
1 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Wine
1/4 tsp Sesame Oil
1/4 tsp Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Dash of Pepper
Step by Step :
1. Rinse chicken meat & cut into small pieces.
2. Marinate chicken meat with above ingredients & shredded ginger (mix evenly) for at least 1 hour or overnight.
3. Then add in the rest of the ingredients and put to steam in rapid boiling water for 20-25 mins.
4. Remove from heat & ready to serve.
Tips : For added nutritional benefits, you may add some DOM wine to the steamed chicken after steaming. About 1 tablespoon, depending on how you like the taste of DOM.