Hoisin sauce brings Asian taste to chicken

By Jean Kressy, Globe Staff, 03/11/98

Ground bean sauces such as hoisin are used all over China. Made from fermented soybeans, sugar, and garlic, hoisin sauce is used for marinades, stir-fries, and dipping. Its sweet and spicy flavors add a distinctively Asian taste to this simple chicken dish. Once you open the jar, store hoisin in the refrigerator, where it will keep indefinitely. This recipe goes well with steamed rice.

In a small bowl, combine the broth, hoisin sauce, cornstarch, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic. Whisk to combine.

Lightly coat the chicken with bread crumbs. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Add the vermouth, cover, and thoroughly cook the chicken over low heat, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to serving plates. Whisk the broth mixture again and add to the skillet. Cook over high heat, stirring to remove any brown particles on the bottom, until the sauce bubbles and is lightly thickened. Spoon over the chicken.

Jean Kressy

This story ran on page E03 of the Boston Globe on 03/11/98. © Copyright