Braised Chicken With Spices
Some Star Anise, Cloves and Chopped Garlic
Good morning, dear friends 
For those days that you really don’t know what to cook for dinner, or you just want to cook a simple dish without all the fuss, this is the recipe to follow. I learned this dish many years ago from my mother-in-law’s amah (maid) and the ingredients used are really simple. Yet the dish is so fragrant and delicious when eaten with steaming hot white rice. I would say this is a Malaysian Chinese flavour.
Ingredients -
4 large chicken legs, cleaned and pat dry with paper kitchen towels
5 star anise, 5 cloves
6 cloves garlic, chopped finely
3 tbsps oil
1 cup water
Marinade -
3 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsp black or thick soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsps sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp cornstarch
Method -
1) Marinate the chicken legs for at least 2 – 3 hours. If you don’t have the time to wait, then massage the marinade into the chicken for about 5 minutes.
2) In a wok, heat up the oil. Put in the spices and chopped garlic and fry until the garlic is golden in colour.
3) Put in the chicken legs together with the marinade and keep stirring for about 5 minutes when the sauce is aromatic.
4) Pour in the cup of water, bring sauce to a boil and then lower the heat to small. Cover wok with a lid and simmer the chicken for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
5) Turn off the fire and leave chicken to finish cooking in the covered wok…about 15 minutes.
6) Cut into serving pieces and pour the sauce over the chicken. Garnish with chopped green onions if you like.
Bon Appetit!
sweetrosie said,
April 10, 2008 @ 6:25 am
I don’t believe it! This looks exactly like a dish Eric had for dinner at a (authentic) Chinese reataurant the other night! I had the barbecue pork and duck, he had the Sontong or Samton Chicken, not sure really what the menu called it. Anyway, it looked exactly like your beautiful meal.
He loved it, and now, here you are posting a special recipe for me!
Thank you dear, you’re the best
Love & hugs
happyhomemaker88 said,
April 10, 2008 @ 8:09 am
Hehe, dear sweetrosie, what a coincidence that I posted this recipe, looks like it was meant for you!
Actually, this post has been sitting in my Drafts File here for a few months and somehow, I decided to post it yesterday..hmmm…I must have read your mind! 
I hope you like the taste of this recipe – the Hong Kong restaurants have a similar version of this called “See Yow Gai” or “Soy Sauce Chicken)…they braised the whole chickens in a prepared stock of star anise, cloves, knob of ginger, whole green onions/scallions, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rock sugar and water (enough to immerse the chicken in).
Have a wonderful day today!
With love and hugs,
choesf
delia said,
May 26, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
This dish is delicious. I cooked this dish last saturday and it’s awesome. My children all like the sauce. Thanks for such an easy and delicious recipe.
happyhomemaker88 said,
May 26, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
Hello there and welcome, dear delia
Thank you for your lovely feedback – I’m so glad your cooking turned out great and your kids liked the sauce. I have another recipe coming up which my kids and hubby love very much – it is an easy pork chop recipe with lots of fried potatoes and onions. I will post this shortly as the pictures are ready to go.
Have a great week ahead with your loved ones!
With peace and joy,
choesf
Nic said,
October 19, 2008 @ 2:47 am
Thank you for sharing this recipe. OMG it was way too yummy!
happyhomemaker88 said,
October 19, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Hi there, dear Nic!
You are most welcome to the recipes here! I’m glad you like this dish. Reading back this posting is now making me drool also as it has been such a long time ago when I last cooked this.
Happy Cooking!
choesf
manila said,
April 12, 2009 @ 10:57 am
Hi Choesf,
5* for this recipe. It is so simple and looks delicious. i am gonna try it soon.
Thank you.
happyhomemaker88 said,
April 13, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
You are very welcome, dear manila. I’m glad to share this recipe with you. Here is another of my family’s favourite chicken stew using cinnamon sticks and those that have tried this recipe have given positive comments -
Simple Delicious Onion Cinnamon Chicken Potato Stew
Happy Cooking!
With peace and joy,
choesf
manila said,
April 14, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Thanks Choesf,
will check it right away.
happyhomemaker88 said,
April 14, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
You are most welcome!
Good Night from Malaysia, dear manila!
With peace and joy,
choesf