Secret Recipe for Chicken Rice Bowl: Tender Meat and Thick Sauce You Can Make at Home, Tastes Like the Famous Restaurant

When it comes to a one-dish meal that never gets boring, the chicken rice bowl is a favorite for many. However, making the chicken tender and bouncy, with the sauce just thick enough, glossy and beautifully colored like at legendary restaurants, involves some small secrets that can easily elevate your cooking to a restaurant-quality dish.

How to Make Chicken Rice Bowl

• Preparation of Ingredients for Chicken Rice Bowl

For the chicken, it is recommended to use the thigh portion, cut into bite-sized pieces, as this part is tender and juicy, unlike the tougher chicken breast.

For seasonings, use light soy sauce, seasoning sauce, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, and the key ingredients: Chinese cooking wine and sesame oil for their distinctive aroma.

For thickening, use tapioca starch or arrowroot starch, which will make the sauce clear, glossy, and prevent it from separating into a watery liquid when left to sit.

Serve with side dishes like fried Chinese sausage, sliced green chili, coriander, and sour sauce (Jik Chiew).

Three Steps to Make a Legendary Delicious Chicken Rice Bowl

1. Marinate to Tenderize

The secret to tenderness is marinating the chicken with seasonings and sesame oil for at least 30 minutes. The sesame oil coats the chicken, locking in moisture even after long simmering.

2. Stir-fry and Simmer to Release Aroma

Heat a pan and stir-fry cilantro roots, garlic, and pepper until fragrant. Add the chicken and stir-fry until partially cooked, then add broth. A tip for a beautiful color is to add dark soy sauce little by little until you achieve a golden-brown hue. Then simmer over low heat so the flavors deeply infuse the chicken.

3. Thickening the Sauce to Glossy Perfection

This is a crucial step! Gradually pour in the starch dissolved in water a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue simmering until the sauce becomes clear, thick, and glossy, making it visually appealing.

A perfect chicken rice bowl is served over hot steamed rice, accompanied by fragrant fried Chinese sausage and slices of green chili. The mild spiciness cuts through the richness and instantly enhances the flavor of the sauce.

For a richer flavor, try adding thinly sliced soaked shiitake mushrooms to simmer with the chicken. This will add aroma and improve the texture.