Beggar's Chicken (China)

An authentic recipe for traditional Chinese Beggar's Chicken, featuring a flavorful stuffed chicken sealed in a protective crust and baked to perfection.

Level Hard Prep 60 min Cook 180 min Servings 6 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

240 min

Makes 6 servings

Prep 60m

Cook 180m

Level Hard

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Chinese Beggar's Chicken, featuring a flavorful stuffed chicken sealed in a protective crust and baked to perfection.

A classic Chinese delicacy featuring a stuffed whole chicken baked inside an airtight crust for supreme moisture and flavor.

Instructions

Marinate the cleaned whole chicken with Shaoxing wine, light and dark soy sauces, five-spice powder, and salt for at least 2 hours.
In a pan, stir-fry the diced pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, then let cool.
Stuff the cooked mixture into the cavity of the marinated chicken and secure it tightly.
Wrap the stuffed chicken securely in softened lotus leaves, ensuring no gaps are left.
Roll out the flour-and-water dough and encase the lotus-wrapped chicken completely, sealing all edges tightly.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake the encased chicken for about 3 hours until the crust is hard and golden. Crack open the crust and peel back the leaves before serving.
180 min

Nutrition

Calories 450

Protein 38g

Carbs 15g

Fat 26g

Fiber 2g

Sugar 2g

Sodium 680mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Cooking Timeline

Prep 60 min

Cook 180 min

Total 240 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.8
Presentation 9.5
Nutrition 8.0
Value 8.5
Instructions 9.2
Ingredients 9.0
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 8.0
Would Make Again 8.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

A legendary culinary masterpiece that yields fall-apart tender meat infused with incredible depth of flavor.

Pros

Unmatched tenderness
Rich traditional heritage
Aromatic stuffing

Cons

Long preparation and cooking time

Overview

A classic Chinese delicacy featuring a stuffed whole chicken baked inside an airtight crust for supreme moisture and flavor.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Chinese Beggar's Chicken, featuring a flavorful stuffed chicken sealed in a protective crust and baked to perfection.

Tips

Ensure the dough crust has no cracks so the steam and aromas stay trapped inside
Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after breaking the crust before unwrapping the lotus leaves
Use premium Shaoxing rice wine for an authentic depth of flavor