Hainanese chicken rice (ข้าวมันไก่)

Hainanese chicken rice is a popular Southeast Asian dish of tender poached chicken served over seasoned, oily rice with dipping sauces. [1, 2]

It is adapted from an older tradition on China's Hainan Island and became a national staple in places like Singapore and Thailand, where it is known as khao man kai. [1, 2]

Key Components

Poached Chicken: “Tender, juicy poached chicken” is cooked at a low temperature with ginger and scallions, then plunged into an ice bath to make the skin smooth and gelatinous.

Aromatic Rice: The rice is sautéed in rendered chicken fat and cooked in the rich chicken broth left over from poaching the meat.

Dipping Sauces: It is typically served with a sharp chili sauce, ginger-garlic paste, and thick, sweet dark soy sauce.

Garnishes: Sliced cucumbers and a small bowl of clear chicken soup are standard sides