Stewed Chicken in Dark Soya Sauce
Chicken, Dinner, Tofu November 3rd, 2006

Clockwise from top : Stewed Chicken in Dark Soya Sauce,
the gravy and Stewed Beancurd in Dark Soya Sauce
This recipe is EASY. You should try it, if you have not. It is different from Tau Yu Bak (Stewed Pork in dark soya sauce) in taste but can be similar to Stewed Duck in Dark Soya Sauce save for some difference in spices used.
I used to cook this dish quite often during my university days in England and my British housemates loved it when eaten with steaming hot rice! If you make an extra effort and fry the rice ala Egg Fried Rice, you will have a truly satisfying meal. The beancurd is a complimentary item which I add to the dish. You can also add hard boiled eggs (shell removed, of course) into the dish during the simmering stage.
This is my recipe for Stewed Chicken in Dark Soya Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 chicken legs (whole)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 whole bulbs garlic (remove skin)
- Approximately 15 – 20 white peppercorns
- Warm water
- 1 piece star-anise (optional)
- 2 pieces hard-type beancurd (optional)
- 2 large hard-boiled eggs (optional)
Seasoning
- 2 to 3 tablespoons dark soya sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Method
Add sugar into a wok / saucepan which has been heated up. Let the sugar caramelise (turn liquid and brown).
Once sugar fully caramelised, add chicken legs and let it “sear” for 1 minute on each side. Add water to cover the chicken by 1 to 2 cm. Add the rest of the ingredients and seasoning. Once water begins to boil, reduce to medium low heat, cover lid and let it simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.
To serve, separate gravy from the rest of the ingredients. Chop the chicken to desired size, cut beancurd into quarters and half the eggs.
My Recommended Recipes
- Stewed Chicken in Dark Soya Sauce
- Stewed Pork Belly in Dark Soya Sauce
- Tau Yu Bak (Stewed Pork in Soya Sauce)
- Fried Bee Hoon with Stewed Pork Ribs
- Braised Noodles with Stewed Pork Slices
April 16th, 2008 at 5:04 am
Hey there, thanks for the recipe. Just what I’ve been wanting to make for dinner today. I was given this recipe some time back by a friend. She used soy sauce and I tried with that. Disaster. Too salty. No amount of sugar could save that.
Anyway, I haven’t got any peppercorn. What can I replace that with?
April 16th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Chewbies : Hmm…peppercorn is essential for this dish. I suppose the next best ingredient would be white pepper powder though I must say it does not taste as good using that.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:27 am
I don’t cook much but I tried your recipe a few days ago. I am glad to say that it is foolproof and very delicious. =)