Perfect Beer-Steamed Chicken Recipe for a Family Feast

Chicken is a staple ingredient in Vietnamese family meals due to its high nutritional value and versatility in cooking. If you’re looking for a new and exciting dish to treat your family, beer-steamed chicken is the perfect choice. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also easy to make, offering a unique culinary experience for a special family dinner.

Ingredients Needed for Beer-Steamed Chicken

To make beer-steamed chicken, you’ll need the following simple and easily obtainable ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (about 1.5kg)
• 330ml beer (1 can)
• 5 lemongrass stalks
• 1 shallot
• 1 garlic bulb
• 3 chili peppers
• 1 lemon
• 1 cap of white liquor
• Seasonings: Pepper, fish sauce, salt, sugar, MSG
• Fresh herbs or cucumber (for garnish)

Ingredients for beer-steamed chicken

Detailed Steps to Make Beer-Steamed Chicken

1. Preparing the Ingredients

Preparing the Chicken

The first step in making beer-steamed chicken is to clean and deodorize the chicken effectively. Mix a solution of 2 parts salt and 1 part vinegar, then rub it thoroughly over the entire surface of the chicken. Scrub for about 10 minutes, then rinse with clean water and let it drain. This step helps remove dirt and the chicken’s gamey smell.

Preparing the chicken

Preparing Other Ingredients

• Lemongrass: Remove the outer tough layers, rinse, and crush.
• Garlic and shallot: Peel and finely chop.
• Chili peppers: Rinse, slice, or finely chop according to preference.

Preparing garlic, chili, and lemongrass

2. Marinating the Chicken

After preparing the ingredients, proceed to marinate the chicken to let it absorb the flavors. The marinade mixture includes:

• Finely chopped garlic, shallot, and chili
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 4 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon of MSG
• ½ tablespoon of sugar
• ½ tablespoon of salt

Mix the seasonings well, then rub them evenly over the entire chicken, including the skin and cavity. Let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Marinating the chicken with seasonings

3. Preparing the Steaming Pot

Prepare a large pot and line the bottom with crushed lemongrass. If your family enjoys spicy food, you can add a few fresh chili slices to enhance the flavor of the dish.

4. Steaming the Chicken

• Before steaming, insert one lemongrass stalk and one crushed shallot into the chicken’s cavity. Fold the chicken’s legs into the cavity to keep the ingredients inside.
• Place the chicken in the center of the pot, pour in the beer, and steam over medium heat for about 20-25 minutes. If the liquid level drops too low during steaming, add more beer or water to prevent burning.
• After 10 minutes, gently turn the chicken to ensure even cooking. Be careful not to tear the chicken’s skin during this step.

Steaming the chicken with beer

5. Checking the Doneness of the Chicken

To check if the chicken is fully cooked, use a skewer or chopstick to pierce the thickest part of the meat (thigh or breast). If no pink juices come out, the chicken is fully cooked. If pink juices are still present, continue steaming for a few more minutes.

Final Product of Beer-Steamed Chicken

When finished, the beer-steamed chicken will have a beautiful golden color, with a glossy and tender skin. The meat will be evenly cooked, flavorful, and rich in seasoning. This dish is best enjoyed hot, accompanied by a special dipping sauce or lemon-salt-chili mix.

Finished beer-steamed chicken

Dipping Sauce for Beer-Steamed Chicken

The dipping sauce plays a crucial role in enhancing the flavor of beer-steamed chicken. Here’s a simple recipe for the dipping sauce:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of MSG, and ½ teaspoon of sugar thoroughly.
• Add finely chopped chili, lemon juice, and a bit of the concentrated chicken steaming liquid.
• Stir the mixture well to create a flavorful dipping sauce.

Dipping sauce for beer-steamed chicken

Conclusion

Making beer-steamed chicken is not only simple but also delivers a delicious and nutritious dish for your family. With the unique flavor combination of chicken and beer, this dish is sure to earn rave reviews. Try this recipe today to create a truly special family meal!

In addition to beer-steamed chicken, you can also explore other chicken dishes like air fryer roasted chicken or honey-glazed rotisserie chicken to diversify your family’s menu. Wishing you success and enjoyable culinary experiences!