Chinese Steamed Chicken

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Chinese steamed chicken is simple, comforting, and packed with flavor. It only takes less than 15 minutes, and everything comes together with ingredients like ginger, goji berries, and Shaoxing wine. I’ve added a video guide and tips to make sure the chicken stays juicy and tender every time.

Prep Time5

Cook Time8

Total Time13

Course: Chicken

Cuisine: Chinese Recipes

Keyword: Chinese Steamed Chicken

Servings: people

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

10.5 oz boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
3 dashes ground white pepper
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 inches ginger, peeled cut into thin strips
2 fresh/dried shiitake mushrooms sliced, if using dried shiitake mushrooms soak in warm water for 15 mins before slicing
1 tablespoon dried goji berries rinsed
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 stalk scallion cut into strips

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Marinate the chicken with Shaoxing wine, white pepper, oyster sauce, and cornstarch.
Bring your steamer to a rolling boil. Transfer the marinated chicken to a plate, spread it into a single layer, then top with ginger, goji berries, mushrooms, and soy sauce.
Steam the chicken for 8 minutes. Garnish with scallions and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

That teaspoon of cornstarch isn’t just for thickening—it forms a protective layer that keeps the chicken silky and tender. This "velveting" technique, used by Cantonese chefs, is the key to preventing dryness.

Goji berries do double duty. They add color and release a subtle sweetness that balances the soy sauce. To keep them tender, soak them in cold water for 5 minutes to prevent a leathery texture.

Make sure your steamer is at a rolling boil before you add the plate. Weak steam = rubbery chicken.

Set a timer for 8 minutes (for 1-inch pieces). The chicken might look slightly underdone when you take it out—that’s fine! The residual heat will finish cooking it without drying it out. If you wait until it's fully cooked, it’ll be dry by serving time.

Nutrition