Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Which Came First, The Chicken Or The Egg?



For lunch today, I ate something I brought back to L.A. in my "Take Out" bag. There's no real English name for it; my parents write "Soy Sauce Chicken" on the take-out box they packed it in, which is the literal translation of its Cantonese name, "See Yao Gai." Consisting of chicken wings and hard boiled eggs that have been permeated by soy sauce, this dish is sort of an "Ode to Chicken" as it shows the chicken-life-cycle in all its glory. It's been dubbed "The Chicken Special" or "Chicken Dee-Lite" by coworkers and friends who, when I open my tupperware and start eating, can't help but chuckle at my pre- and post-conception chicken lunch.

I called my dad to ask how one makes "Chicken Dee-Lite"; here's what I found out:

*Mix equal parts Lee Kum Kee Chicken Marinade (or similar sauce) with water. Bring to a boil.

*Add one or two chunks of rock sugar.
*Add eggs and boil until hard-boiled.
*Remove eggs and add chicken wings; simmer until cooked through. (Do not overcook)
*Remove shells from eggs and add to chicken and sauce. Refrigerate for a day or two until sauce penetrates the eggs. (Sauce with become gelatinous and it will look like you've made yourself a soy sauce chicken terrine. Do not become alarmed...this is supposed to happen!)
*Reheat and serve.

Try it, you'll like it. After all, we should be paying tribute to the chicken--we all owe it to our feathered friends for providing us with many a great meal, right?

1 comment:

Rachael Narins said...

That is such a great idea, Im going to have to try it! Thanks so much!

-Rachael