Braised chicken drumsticks are a classic Chinese home-style dish. After being braised, the chicken drumsticks are tender and juicy, with a rich, savory sauce and a perfect balance of salty and sweet. They can be served as a side dish with rice, or as a cold dish or with noodles.
Materials
Braised Chicken Legs: A Delicious Food You Can Enjoy While Losing Weight
Wash and clean the chicken drumsticks, trim off the fatty skin, and make a few slits on the surface with a knife (to help them absorb the marinade). Also, if you're making this for a low-fat meal, remember to remove the skin completely.
Place the vegetables in a pot of cold water, add ginger slices and cooking wine, bring to a boil over high heat, blanch for 3 minutes, remove, rinse clean, and drain.
Add star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, dried chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and rock sugar.
Add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine, then add enough water to cover the chicken legs. ⚠️Note: The amount of light and dark soy sauce is flexible and depends on individual taste. Some people prefer a stronger flavor, while others prefer a lighter flavor for a weight-loss meal. Therefore, you can adjust the amount to your liking. ⚠️Also, if you're a beginner and unsure about the saltiness, you can buy a pre-packaged braising sauce packet, such as a five-spice or spicy braising sauce packet from Hao Ren Jia. Ready-made braising sauce packets are very simple; just pour them in with water, and the taste is great!
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes (the longer the simmering time, the more flavorful the chicken legs will be). Turn the chicken legs occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the pot and to ensure even browning. You can taste the broth halfway through and add soy sauce or salt as needed to adjust the saltiness.
Reduce the sauce/soak (key step) Method ① (for immediate consumption): Remove the lid and turn up the heat to reduce the sauce until it thickens and coats the chicken legs for better flavor. Method ② (for even better flavor): After turning off the heat, let the chicken legs soak in the sauce for at least 30 minutes for a richer flavor.
Remove the chicken legs from the water, drizzle with a little braising liquid, and garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds.
Plate and serve
Tips for enjoying braised chicken legs even while dieting
Cooking Tips ✅ Key to Removing the Fishy Smell: Add ginger slices and cooking wine when blanching to effectively remove the fishy smell of the chicken legs. ✅ Upgraded Version: - You can add eggs, dried tofu, chicken wings, etc. to braise together. - Add more rock sugar if you prefer a sweeter taste, and add more dried chili peppers if you prefer a spicier taste.
