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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.
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. One of my favorite Taiwanese recipes is Taiwanese salt and pepper chicken.
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.
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!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Three Cup Chicken
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 308 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Three Cup Chicken
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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Other Recipes You Might Like
Three Cup Chicken (三杯鸡)
Ingredients
- 1 lb (500g) 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 (5cm) 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 baking soda. Set aside for 10 minutes before rinsing the chicken with water. Make sure the baking soda is completely rinsed off. Pat the chicken pieces dry and set aside. This step is optional.
- Heat a clay pot over high heat and add the sesame oil. Add the ginger and garlic, and stir-fry until aromatic. Add the chicken and stir quickly a few times.
- Add the soy sauce, dark sweet soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine, then continue stir-frying the chicken. Cover with 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use white wine instead? Thks ….
Yes you can.
Can I use white wine instead?
Hi,
Just to check. The soy sauce in your recipe is it the light soy sauce?
I happened to cook the dish based on another recipe which i found online. However, it didn’t turn out that great. Im glad i saw your blog now and can’t wait to try your recipe.
Thanks!
Hi Eileen, yes light soy sauce, try my three cup chicken recipe, it’s good!
Hi Rasa! I’ll be making this tomorrow with 3 lbs of chicken. Do I need to triple the amount of all the ingredients? Thx
This looks delicious and can’t wait to try it, however, my husband prefers white meat chicken so I’ll be throwing in a cut up piece of breast meat for him. Curious if you’ve tried the recipe or baking soda trick with breast meat…
The baking soda trick will work with chicken breast, too. :)
If I can’t find Thai basil can I use common basil?
You can but it will taste slightly different.
What brand of Shaoxing wine do you recommend? And do you remove the skin from the chicken?
Any brand is fine. I don’t remove the skin.
Hi Bee. Possible to do a video on how to chop drumsticks into bite size for newbie like me? I know I can just cook with drumstick by its own but I prefer it in pieces. I have poor knife skills. I tend to chop them and let bone fragments in the meat.
LOL I am not good in chopping, too. ;)
I have horrible knife skills, so since these are already drumsticks, can I just rub the meat with baking soda and continue from there?
Yes you can you don’t have to chop it, or you can use boneless thighs, that will work too.
Are these chicken drumettes?
They are drumsticks.