Quang Ninh is a land endowed with sea, forests, hills, mountains, and fertile plains. Consequently, this region boasts a rich culinary culture with numerous delectable dishes. Tien Yen chicken hotpot cooked with fermented rice lees is one such delicacy!
Visit Quang Ninh to enjoy delicious and nutritious Tien Yen chicken hotpot cooked with fermented rice lees
When speaking of Quang Ninh cuisine, in addition to fresh seafood, Tien Yen chicken is also a celebrated specialty captured in the local saying: “Mong Cai pigs – Dam Ha girls – Tien Yen chickens”.
Tien Yen is located about 70km from Ha Long City. The district's terrain is predominantly hilly and mountainous, ideal for raising free-range poultry and livestock in natural surroundings. Therefore, Tien Yen chicken has earned widespread fame as a specialty carrying the distinctive flavor of this region.
Tien Yen chicken, an indigenous hill chicken breed. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Tien Yen chicken belongs to a local breed of hill chickens known as "bearded chicken," where hens feature a characteristic tuft of long feathers beneath their beaks. A rustic, healthy farming method in harmony with nature is the secret behind their firm, flavorful meat.
Characteristics of the Tien Yen chicken breed. Photo: Dan Toc Newspaper.
Tien Yen locals raise their chickens free-range, allowing them to roam freely across the hills foraging for ants, termites, crickets, and more. As a result, the chicken meat is sweet, fragrant, low in fat, with thick, golden, crispy skin.
Tien Yen chicken can be prepared into a variety of dishes: boiled chicken, salt-steamed chicken, roasted chicken, ginger wine soup, herbal medicine stew... and, indispensable among them, Tien Yen chicken hotpot cooked with fermented rice lees, a familiar yet delightfully unique dish.
Boiled Tien Yen chicken with crispy golden skin and sweet meat. Illustrative photo: Van Hoa Newspaper.
The ingredients for this dish are all familiar: fermented rice lees, ginger, dried shallots, shiitake mushrooms, chili... Seasonings include satay sauce, tubular marrow bones for the broth, bouillon powder, and sugar. In addition, there are hotpot accompaniments such as scallions, cordyceps mushrooms, water spinach, Napa cabbage, culantro...
The delicious flavor of the hotpot lies in the bowl of fermented rice lees made from yellow flower glutinous rice, similar to the fermented glutinous rice traditionally enjoyed during the Mid-Year Festival (Doan Ngo Festival) on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.
Eye-catching boiled chicken meat. Illustrative photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
The Tien Yen chicken is cleaned and chopped into bite-sized pieces. Shallots and ginger are finely sliced. Shiitake mushrooms are cut in half. Next, marinate the chicken with half a bowl of fermented rice mash, shallots, ginger, bouillon powder, and sugar for about 30 minutes.
Roasted Tien Yen chicken. Illustrative photo: Van Hoa Newspaper.
While waiting for the chicken to absorb the seasonings, the broth is prepared. The hotpot broth is simmered from pork tubular marrow bones, with a small cup of wine lees liquid, the remaining half bowl of fermented rice mash, and bouillon powder added.
When the hotpot broth boils vigorously, add the marinated chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and cordyceps mushrooms; after a few minutes, it is ready to enjoy. Once finished, the chicken hotpot pot has an attractive golden hue imparted by the cordyceps mushrooms.
Ingredients for cooking the hotpot. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
For Tien Yen chicken hotpot cooked with fermented rice lees, it pairs wonderfully with a dipping sauce mixed from soy sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings to enhance the dish's allure.
The broth is rich and fragrant with the aroma of fermented glutinous rice, offering a deep sweetness and a gentle tingle on the tip of the tongue. The chicken is firm with crispy skin, made even more irresistible when paired with the dipping sauce. In addition to being delicious, this hotpot is highly nutritious—ideal for postpartum women or anyone recovering from a cold, sneezing, or a runny nose; sipping a bowl of the hotpot broth brings immediate lightness and restores the body's energy.
An eye-catching golden hotpot. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Tien Yen chicken hotpot with sour bamboo shoots. Illustrative photo: nhahangquatram.
Tien Yen chicken hotpot cooked with fermented rice lees, prepared with the renowned chicken from this mountainous district of Quang Ninh Province, is a flavorful treat that attracts food connoisseurs from all around. Stay tuned for more informative articles from the iVIVU blog for a wonderful vacation!
