Wenchang chicken facts for kids
Wenchang chicken after cooking, before being cut into pieces
|
|
| Region or state | Hainan, China |
|---|---|
| Created by | Hainanese |
| Main ingredients | Chicken |
Wenchang chicken is a special type of chicken from the city of Wenchang on Hainan island in China. It's known both as a specific breed of chicken and as a delicious chicken dish.
The Wenchang Chicken Breed
This chicken is a smaller type, but it has a good amount of meat. These chickens are free-range, meaning they can roam around freely. They are fed special foods like coconut and peanut husks. For the last two months before they are ready for market, they live in special coops that are built above the ground. This helps them stay healthy.
The Wenchang Chicken Dish
Wenchang chicken is a very famous dish all over Hainan. The traditional way to cook it is called "white cutting" (白切). This means the chicken is gently cooked in water that is almost boiling. This method helps keep the meat super soft and tender.
When you eat Wenchang chicken, you usually dip the pieces into a tasty sauce. This sauce is often made with chopped ginger and salt, along with other spices. The skin of the Wenchang chicken is usually yellow and looks a bit oily. The meat itself is a little firmer and has more texture than chicken from other farms. This dish is also very popular in other parts of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and many countries in Southeast Asia.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
During the 1800s and 1900s, many Hainanese moved to places like Singapore. They brought their amazing cooking skills with them. They created new dishes by mixing their traditional Hainan recipes with local ingredients.
One of the most famous dishes that came from Wenchang chicken is Hainanese chicken rice. This dish is now considered the national dish of Singapore. It's also known as one of the most loved food exports from Southeast Asia.
Hainanese chicken rice first became popular in the 1920s. A Hainanese chef named Wang Yiyuan, who lived in Singapore, helped create it. Later, in the mid-1900s, another chef named Moh Lee Twee made it even more famous. His restaurant, Swee Kee Chicken Rice, was a favorite spot for over 50 years!
