Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken
Three cup chicken or san bei ji (三杯鸡) is one of the most classic Taiwanese recipes. I always order this dish whenever I eat out at Taiwanese restaurants.
I love Taiwanese recipes because they are unpretentious, humble and homey dishes that are easy to make at home.
Taiwanese cuisine is basically Chinese food with local influences with slightly different cooking methods, local adaptations and variations.
Many Taiwanese dishes remind me of Chinese-Malaysian food. Both share the same origin from Fujian province in China as many early immigrants settled in Taiwan, Malaysia or Singapore.
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Why Is It Called Three Cup Chicken?
The name three cup chicken (三杯鸡) comes from the three key ingredients in the recipe:
- Sesame oil
- Chinese rice wine
- Soy sauce
“Cups” refer to the equal ratio instead of literal measurement of three cup chicken recipe.
A true and authentic Taiwanese three cup chicken calls for basil leaves, the soul of the dish that lends an exotic aroma and minty nuance to the taste.
Taiwanese also love all sorts of “three cup” recipes, for example three cup squid (三杯小卷), tofu, mushrooms or eggplant. All of them are delicious!
How to Make Three Cup Chicken Crispy?
If you like crispy chicken, you may deep fry the chicken quickly until the outer part of the chicken are fried, but may not cooked through inside.
Drain the chicken with paper towels and follow the remaining cooking steps.
How Many Calories Per Serving?
This recipe is only 308 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with Three Cup Chicken Recipe?
This dish is best served as a main entree, with steamed rice. For a wholesome Taiwanese meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Three Cup Chicken (三杯鸡)
Easy and authentic three cup chicken (san bei ji) recipe that anyone can make at home. This three cup chicken recipe tastes homey and takes 20 mins to make.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken drumsticks, chicken thighs or a combination of chicken parts
- 1 tablespoon baking soda to tenderize the chicken, optional
- 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil or toasted sesame oil
- 2-inch piece old ginger, peeled and cut into thin pieces
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dark sweet soy sauce, kecap manis
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
- 1 bunch Thai basil leaves
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into pieces and rub them with the baking soda. Set aside for 10 minutes before rinsing the chicken off with water. Make sure the baking soda is completely rinsed off. Pat dry the chicken pieces and set aside. This is an optional step.
- Heat up a clay pot on high heat and add the sesame oil. Add the ginger, garlic, and stir-fry until aromatic. Add in the chicken and do a few quick stirs.
- Add the soy sauce, dark sweet soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and continue to stir-fry the chicken. Cover the lid, lower the heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the basil leaves and stir well with the chicken, dish out and serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe calls for dark sesame oil or toasted sesame oil, which is different from regular sesame oil. Dark sesame oil is a lot more expensive but the flavor is more intense and with a stronger toasted sesame fragrance.
If you don't have sweet soy sauce or kecap manis, you may use 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce and add 1 teaspoon of sugar.
If you like crispy three cup chicken, you may deep fry the chicken quickly until the outer part of the chicken are fried, but may not cooked through inside. Drain the oil with paper towels and follow the remaining cooking steps.
You can skip the first step of tenderizing the chicken with baking soda. I personally like it because it makes the chicken so tender. If you don't have a clay pot, you can use a regular wok or pan to make this dish.
Nutrition Information
Yield
3Serving Size
3 peopleAmount Per Serving Calories 308Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 93mgSodium 1866mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 1gSugar 7gProtein 19g
Sandra Akers
If I don’t have a clay pot for the 3 Cup Chicken, what can I use?
Rasa Malaysia
You can use anything that you have. Shallow pot, pan, skillet. Just cover it with lid while cooking.
Chin
I tried your recipe last night and it turned out great. So easy that it seems not worth having it at a Chinese restaurant. Thank you.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Chin, all recipes on my site are great. Please try more: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
Chin
Actually, I have. Another family favourite is the Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken. Everyone loves it. :)
Rasa Malaysia
Awesome thanks Chin!
Helen
This looks great, but I wanted to check first that it really is Chicken Drumsticks that are required, as it would be hard to get the meat off those? Thanks in advance.
Rasa Malaysia
You can use any chicken parts.
Helen
Thanks. I just wanted to be sure as it says to cut the chicken into pieces and I wanted to be sure I could use any part of the chicken.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can use any parts of the chicken.
TLS
I guess you’ve not been to Taiwan, chicken is chopped with a meat cleaver and you often get sharp bits of bones in this dish due to that…
Not very “Western”, but the Taiwanese like bone-in chicken. Take it from someone that cracked a tooth his first week living in Taiwan.
TY
What if I don’t have chinese wine? is it ok to omit the wine?
Rasa Malaysia
If you don’t have it, then it’s not really 3 cup chicken, as the cup means 1 portion of wine. You can use water but the nuance will not be the same!
Christel
Why would you cut drumsticks into pieces?
TLS
As pointed out above, it’s normal in Taiwan, the Taiwanese like bone-in chicken, even if there are sharp pieces after having chopped it up with a meat cleaver.
Michael l Javick
I will definitely enjoy this when i visit Taiwan !
Sharon Rasmussen
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes. I always know Im going to make a wonderful dish by following your directions. Love the pictures up put up too.
DB
I have a gas stove. Can I put a clay pot on the flame without it breaking? Or, can it be used in a broiler? I’d love to get a clay pot but I was always afraid to try it. Thank you! Kind regards.
Rasa Malaysia
I think it’s fine for gas stove. Not sure about broiler.
Charis
I like the simple and easy to understand instructions ?
Rasa Malaysia
Awesome!
CARMEN WEI
What can I use instead of Shoxing sauce
Soh hui
Can I use chinese dark soya sauce instead of kecap mains?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes you can but you can add a little bit for color, and add just a wee bit sugar as Chinese dark soy sauce is very salty.
Cheok
Thank you for the recipe. Do I have to add some water or stock at all? Or is this a dish without gravy?
Rasa Malaysia
You don’t have to add water but you can add a little bit if you like.