Tea-smoked chicken salad
4 Servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| ½ | teaspoon | Salt |
| ¼ | teaspoon | Szechuan peppercorns, |
| Crushed* | ||
| ⅛ | teaspoon | Granulated sugar |
| ⅛ | teaspoon | Ground ginger |
| 10 | ounces | Skinless boneless chicken |
| Thighs | ||
| 1 | medium | Scallion, quartered |
| 3 | slices | Pared fresh ginger root |
| 2 | cloves | Garlic, crushed |
| ½ | cup | Uncooked, regular long-grain |
| Rice | ||
| 2 | tablespoons | Firmly packed light or dark |
| Brown sugar | ||
| 1 | tablespoon | Plus 1 1/2 tsp. Lapsang |
| Souchong tea leaves* | ||
| ½ | Cinnamon stick | |
| 3 | 3 1/2\" x 1/2\" strips orange | |
| Zest** | ||
| 4 | cups | Torn lettuce leaves |
| 1½ | cup | Drained, canned, sliced |
| Water chestnuts | ||
| 3 | tablespoons | Low-sodium chicken broth |
| 2 | tablespoons | Fresh lemon juice |
| 1 | tablespoon | Peanut oil |
| 1 | medium | Papaya, pared, seeded and |
| Diced | ||
Directions
In small bowl, combine salt, peppercorns, granulated sugar and ground ginger; rub into chicken. Place scallion, ginger root and garlic on top of chicken; refrigerate, covered, 1 hour.
Set a steamer rack or round baking rack into large saucepan; add 1-2 inches water, being careful that water does not reach top of rack.
Spray large heat resistant plate with nonstick cooking spray (plate should fit into saucepan).
Bring water in saucepan to a boil; reduce heat. Place chicken with scallion, ginger root and garlic, along with any accumulated juices, on prepared plate; set plate on rack. Cook chicken over simmering water, covered, 5 minutes, until almost cooked through. Remove chicken and rack from saucepan; discard liquid in saucepan.
Spray same rack with nonstick cooking spray; transfer chicken to rack, discarding scallion, ginger root and garlic.
Line same saucepan with foil. Sprinkle foil with rice, brown sugar and tea leaves; add cinnamon stick and orange zest. Place saucepan over medium heat; cook until mixture begins to smoke. Set prepared rack into saucepan; cook, covered, 12 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from saucepan; set aside to cool.
While chicken is cooling, in large bowl, combine lettuce, waterchestnuts, broth, lemon juice and oil, tossing well to coat thoroughly; divide evenly among 4 plates. Slice cooled chicken; arrange ¼ of the chicken and papaya on each portion of salad.
*Szechuan peppercorns and Lapsang Souchong tea leaves can be purchased in Asian food stores or the Asian food sectin of some supermarkets. If loose tea leaves are not available, use three tea bags and open to release leaves, discarding bag.
**The zest of the orange is the peel without any of the pith (white membrane). To remove zest from orange, use a zester or vegetable peeler; wrap orange in plastic wrap and refrigerate for use at another time.
EACH SERVING PROVIDES: ¾ fat; ½ fruit, 2 vegetables; 2 proteins; ½ bread
PER SERVING: 186 calories; 16g protein; 7g fat; 17g carbohydrate; 68mg calcium; 349mg sodium; 59mg cholesterol; 1g dietary fiber