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
Stephanie
This dish was super yummy although mine came out a lot lighter in colour. Yours look so glazed and shiny black! Should I use dark soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes. Please follow the ingredients in the recipe.
Stephanie
I did follow ur recipe….. . Your recipe says soy sauce and kicap manis which was what I did. The colour came out very light. Hence I asked if maybe I should try dark soy sauce with kicap manis instead .
Rasa Malaysia
I see. That is very straight. Kecap manis is dark. Anyway, sure you can use dark soy sauce.
Sharon
It sounds like the chicken is only being cooked for 15 minutes. How is that enough for chicken thighs?
Rasa Malaysia
What do you mean not enough? 15 minutes will cook the chicken more than enough. They are being chopped up.
Krish
Can you clarify please if this is Thai sweet basil (horapha) or holy basil (kahprao)?
Rasa Malaysia
Both are fine.
Paul Marzolla
Can you use “Bone-In” chicken thighs?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes.
Sabena
I had just polished off a huge bowl of steamed rice with this wonderful, easy-to-execute, authentic tasting san bei ji. Followed the recipe exactly with toasted sesame oil, soya sauce and kecap manis. Thank you for the recipe and more success to you!
Rasa Malaysia
Thanks Sabena, yes, this recipe is amazing with steamed rice. Please try more recipes on my site: https://rasamalaysia.com/recipe-index-gallery/
TLS
Taiwanese cooking does NOT use kecap manis in it, at all. So not sure where you’ve gotten that idea from.
I mean, I understand that this is a Malaysian cooking site and I use kecap manis in a lot of things, but you’re telling your readers that this and that isn’t authentic, but neither is kecap manis in Taiwanese cooking ;-)
Rasa Malaysia
TLS, the authentic recipe uses rock sugar and soy sauce and dark soy sauce. Combine the three things together and compare it to dark sweet soy sauce or Kecap Manis, does it taste any difference? Please bear in mind that dark soy sauce doesn’t mean kecap manis exclusively, that’s why I used comma (,) instead of (). Dark soy sauce can be Thai dark soy sauce (Kwong Hung Seng brand), too. So, why don’t you actually try my recipe and come and talk to me if it’s authentic in taste?! If I make this recipe with say, Malaysian-brand soy sauce, Malaysian brand dark soy sauce and rock sugar, will the recipe not be authentic because oh, Taiwanese people don’t use Malaysian brands? Authenticity lies in the final taste of the recipe! Of course, I am capable of redoing this recipe using rock sugar, soy sauce and dark soy sauce (with Taiwanese brands!) but I find that using sweet soy sauce keeps the taste 100% authentic plus makes it even better! Again, as I said, try my recipe and then let me know if you think it doesn’t taste authentic. Another case in point: Japanese makes perfect and authentic Italian pasta, by using sake and dashi broth. They taste even better than those in Italy, they are the master of delivering authentic tastes but they are not afraid to use ingredients that elevate the taste without losing authenticity. Will you actually rebuke them? Probably not. PS: In case you don’t know, ABC brand kecap manis was established in 1975 in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was owned by Chu brothers — Chu Sam Yak (Chandra Djojonegoro) and Chu Sok Sam — Chinese Indonesian tycoons. Only Chinese make sweet soy sauce, as in Kwong Hung Seng brand Thai dark soy sauce. I am using a Chinese product. In the future, please do your research before you start attacking others!
Brenda
Hi, can I use regular basil in place of Thai basil for this dish? I just realize I picked up the regular basil from the store.
Rasa Malaysia
It’s fine. It doesn’t taste the same though.
Wan Ooi
Totally agree. Great rebuttal, @rasamalaysia.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Wan, thanks for your support! People always have a bone to pick, without knowing their facts straight.
JG
Mic drop. Loved this recipe tonight! Thanks for being you.