Hainanese Chicken Rice - V1

Before I begin, I want to say a huge thank you to two people: Chef Mei Lin and The Analytical Cook. These people have spent time teaching me about Hainan Chicken Rice, and I'll be collaborating with some more experts on Hainan Chicken throughout the year.

Let me first say: This recipe is far from perfect

This is called 'Version 1.0' because I plan to continue making Hainan Chicken Rice until I perfect it, you can see all of my R&D trials here.

If you are unaware of what Hainanese Chicken Rice is, it's essentially the most popular chicken & rice dish in Asia/SE Asia. To me, it is the perfect meal-prep dish (and gym bro dish). I might end up writing a complete blog post on this because I have too much to say.

What is a Perfect Hainan Chicken?

To me, Hainanese Chicken has 3 distinct qualities I am looking for:

1. Supple and plump meat that has a delicate chicken flavor
2. Slippery, silky, soft texture that is accentuated by the chicken skin
3. Jelly (aspic) in between the skin and meat of the bird

If you ask a chef what is the most difficult aspect of Hainan Chicken, 99% will probably say achieving the jelly (aspic) under the skin. I still have yet to crack the code, but the main goal of my R&D is to find a consistent method and chicken breed that will yield aspic every time.

How to Source Chicken

As an American, you grow up thinking chicken is well... chicken. 99% of chickens in America are a Cornish-Cross Broiler in grocery stores, purposely bred for capitalism's need for a large and fast-growing bird. I won't get super into it, but there are chickens that taste like how chicken should taste.

I've tested a variety of chickens in my R&D trials, and this recipe specifically calls for Bo Bo Poultry's Young Chicken. This chicken is specifically a Hong Kong-style bird with smaller breasts, meatier flesh, thicker skin, and yellow fat (the breed is a Barred Silver Cross that originates from France). To me, this is how chicken should taste. You can purchase this on the East Coast (they are based in Brooklyn) or on Weee! for delivery (it came frozen to me).

"But H... what if I just want to use the regular grocery store chicken?"

I am working on Version 2.0 of Hainan Chicken, and it's focus will be on accessibility and using a regular-degular grocery store bird. You can use this recipe with that chicken, but I would make a few tweaks depending on the bird. However, if you can order an Asian-Style Chicken from a local asian grocery store, that would be ideal for this recipe.

What is the Hainan Chicken 'Master' stock?

In Chinese cuisine, there are master stocks that are used to poach ingredients. They are typically really well seasoned, as they are meant to flavor the ingredients that are cooked in them (but not meant to be drunken alone). There are also superior stocks that are less seasoned and used mostly for soups and sauces (and meant to be consumed). I call this a 'master' stock, mostly because idk what I should call it. It has the function of a master stock, but the lighter seasoning of a superior stock.

I birthed my 'master' stock in December 2025, and I think I've cooked over 20 chickens in the same stock since. Think of it like sour dough starter. I've continually added water, more chicken bones, and heaps of time into the same stock, and it's become the most "chicken-y stock" I have. I also use that same stock to make soups, the rice, and the sauces, so chicken is in every aspect of this dish. If I travel for a bit, I will freeze the stock, but this will last me potentially forever. It might sound crazy, but I could even give it to my kids 🤷🏻‍♂️

"But H... do I need to make the Hainan Chicken 'Master' stock?"

No, but poaching the bird in a 'master' stock that has cooked several chickens before greatly enhances the chicken flavor to me. Just wait for the Version 2.0 recipe as I will make a poaching liquid from just water that's easier to make. Or this is your excuse to just start a 'master' stock now!

So H... What Makes Your Cooking Method Special?

After researching heaps of Hainan Chicken recipes and videos, along with consulting Mei and The Analytical Cook, this has been the most consistent method to cooking the bird.

1. Use a heavy-bottomed dutch oven, and you need the lid
2. With the chicken lying on it's back (breasts up), I use just enough stock to leave the breast half exposed
3. Cut to lowest heat, cover with the lid

I know this seems simple, but leaving the breasts exposed essentially allows it to steam under the pot's lid. It will cook at a slower rate than the thighs/dark meat. The ingenuity of this technique solves the issue of white meat cooking faster than dark meat. I can't take credit for this, so thank you Mei & The Analytical Cook.

Future R&D trials have tried cooking in an oven or completely submerging the bird, will publish the successful trials later.

Rice and Sauce Recipe?

They are posted below! Check the Hainan Chicken Series Collection here!

Okay H... Any Other Tips?

Hainan Chicken is one of the truest forms of tasting chicken. There are no sauces, strong seasonings, deep fried batters, or seared crispy skin that can mask the flavor of your chicken. The chicken will only taste as good as the quality of the bird, so I urge you to find the best possible chicken for this.

If you have the chance, watch The Analytical Cook's video on Hainanese Chicken Rice - he does a phenomenal job. Also, equipment wise I think meat hooks and somewhere to hang the chicken are incredibly helpful for this recipe. Also having ample ice makes a key difference in the final product.