Cantonese Steamed Chicken with Chinese Sausage, scallions and shitakes is an easy one dish meal. I've been making this for over forty years and can assure you it's not only healthy, it is delicious!
Cantonese chicken is what I eat when I feel like something healthy and when I need to eat quick!
This steamed chicken comes together fast and that's a good thing when one is "hangry".
Easily made in a Chinese steamer made to fit into a wok, this chicken is simple and satisfying served with steamed rice on the side. Brown or white, or fried, it's up to you!
Cantonese food, found in Hong Kong, emphasizes the fresh ingredients of the dish, and generally has more mild seasonings than other regions in China. Contrast that with Sichuan cooking where spice is heavily used!
Dishes should be well balanced and sauces should not overwhelm the main ingredient.
Dim sum is Cantonese food and many dim sum dishes are steamed. Though there are deep fried Cantonese dishes, many are steamed or boiled.
Way back when, in college actually, I bought a Chinese steamer. I can even remember where I bought it.
My steamer was found on a sidewalk sale table at a kitchen store in the Foothills Mall in Fort Collins, Colorado. It must have been cheap and I must have thought that this was a great find or I never would have bought it.
I don’t even think I knew what pot stickers were back then and dim sum – well, I can assure you I had no clue what that was.
The only thing I can figure is that I had this cookbook, that has long since fallen apart, that contained a variety of recipes and one of which required a Chinese steamer.
It goes without saying that I’ve been making this Cantonese chicken recipe a long time. Like I said, this simple recipe packs so much flavor. Not only that, but it is easy and quick, though it does require a Chinese steamer!
Now that I have a steamer I’ve used it to steam dumplings and it is great for reheating frozen pot stickers. You can put it in the microwave but there is one tiny metal piece that can get very hot-so watch it!
This is a great last minute dish if you have chicken breasts in the freezer, which I always do. I also keep a stash of dried shitake mushrooms around that I buy when I venture to the Asian market.
Green onion? Check. Those are a staple for me. And Chinese sausage, well, I sometimes have that. Often, I use turkey pepperoni. OK! I know it sounds weird but it works.
Chinese sausage is a totally different flavor with a bit of wine and sweetness; unlike pepperoni, totally! They also keep forever in the fridge, but I just ran out!
If you don't have either; no worries. The chicken is still great without it. However the sausage does add another flavor dimension to this mild chicken.
I first wrote about this Cantonese chicken recipe in 2013 which explains why the pics are not so good! I did try to enhance them, but I thought it about time that I shared this simply delicious recipe with you again.
Enjoy!
As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases with no charge to you. This helps cover the cost of keeping my site afloat. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
A few things I used when making Cantonese steamed chicken that might be helpful for you. I prefer a traditional Chinese wok. After many uses it blackens and develops a patina. Please never use soap in your wok! Need a good cleaver? I use mine for many chopping jobs. Make sure it's heavy and fits your hand. I prefer carbon steel. Need a steamer? I could use one with two tiers. When we go to our favorite dumpling place she stacks them at least ten tiers high! Amazing! If you want more recipes to make with your steamer, this cookbook looks interesting!
More Asian recipes?
If you want an Asian twist on focaccia and a way to use more Chinese sausage, this is an incredible recipe.
These Chinese noodles with a fried egg and bacon could be dinner tonight. Honestly, I haven't made this in awhile and these are so good!
I'd love it if you follow me on Pinterest where I pin lots of recipes, that aren't even mine!
Please Pin and Share:
Recipe
Cantonese Steamed Chicken with Mushrooms
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 12 Minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Cantonese
Description
Cantonese Steamed Chicken with scallions, ginger and shitake mushrooms comes together fast and it tastes incredible!
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
5 dried Shitake mushrooms rehydrated and then thinly sliced
1 Chinese dried sausage or about 12 slices turkey pepperoni
4 scallions, sliced on the diagonal in 2 inch pieces
1 2 ½ inch thick piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 ½ T cornstarch
½ T sugar
½ T soy sauce
1 T oyster sauce
½ t sesame oil
Good Pinch of white pepper
1 T dry sherry
1 T peanut oil
Instructions
Remove any fat and gristle from chicken. Slice on diagonal into I inch pieces. ( Freeze the chicken for about 15 minutes and then slice it. Your job will be easier.) Set aside.
Combine mushrooms, sausage, scallions, and ginger.
Combine cornstarch and ½ T cold water, stirring well to dissolve cornstarch. Stir in remaining ingredients except peanut oil. Toss chicken with liquid ingredients and then add peanut oil. Toss well. Toss in the veggie and sausage
mixture and 3 T cold water.
Spread mixture on a china plate (I use a regular dinner plate) that fits in your wok. Put water in wok and set steamer inside. Bring to a boil. Place plate on rack and cover. Steam for 12 minutes or until just done.
Serve with white rice.
Rahul says
The word steamed chicken caught my eyes. Such an amazing idea Abbe. Love all the amazing flavors in it. I have this bamboo pot in my list to buy. But I have so many kitchen gadgets that I bought and used just once. But I guess this would be a great purchase.
Abbe says
I am not a gadget person and I really don't like a cluttered kitchen. But a steamer does come in handy when I make Asian food!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Believe it or not, we generally do not steam our chicken but that is a brilliant idea. Great addition to the morning congee, if you are into that kind of thing. Adding the Chinese sausage adds that much needed punch to the recipe.
Pam says
I seem to keep repeating the same chicken dishes so need to change that after seeing this. Plus healthy dishes are a good thing. Now I need to hunt for a Chinese steamer! And I'll be checking out Chinese dried sausage. Then I need to talk Bill into eating this!
Liz Berg says
YUM! I gravitate to the same boring chicken recipes from my repetoire. This is the perfect way to branch out and have a delicious meal!!
sherry says
i love your roooster jug. so cute. and this dish sounds very healthy and delicious.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Priscilla, this is very healthy dish and you will be amazed at how much flavor it has. But feel free to add a bit of chili oil if you like!
Priscilla M says
I'm always on the quest to find good healthy recipes and I think I just found one of them. I wonder if I can make it a spicier version of this dish?
Natalie G says
Such a great dish! I like that you steamed the chicken, very healthy.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thank you so much Joyti! It sounds like it is time to go shopping!
Joyti says
My chinese-style bamboo streamer has mysteriously disappeared. I need a new one! So I can make pretty healthy dishes - like the one you have here. It sounds so good.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Meirav, you are very kind. I keep plugging away! I think you would enjoy steamer!
Meirav says
It makes me happy that your blog is becoming more and more professional. The recipes, the photos, and the nice comments you get.
For a long time I wanted to buy a steamer just like yours, but did not buy one yet. Maybe this post will encourage me to buy soon.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Yi. I will definitely have to try it for steamed buns. Can't wait for those!
Abbe Odenwalder says
The pepperoni gives it that something extra Chicago John! Thanks for writing.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Purabi! I do believe it is authentic. Give it a try!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Very healthy Angie and good, too!
Jayne says
I love your steamer. I'm Chinese and still don't own a steamer like that. haha... Love this very healthy and simple recipe 😉
Angie's Recipes says
I need this in my life too! They are so much healthier than the fried one.
Purabi Naha says
Wow! Abbe, I loved your steamer! Your dish screams authenticity and is healthy too. Chinese food is one of my favourites!
Yi @ Yi Reservation says
Love your Chinese bamboo steamer story. I got mine a few years ago when i started making steamed buns have since used it frequently to steam all sort of stuff.
The steamed chicken sounds fabulous!The pepperoni idea is definitely exciting I'd love to try it next time! Excellent recipe!
ChgoJohn says
I misinterpreted this post's title, thinking the chicken dish would last 30 years. Never mind that ...This does sound delicious! It's the pepperoni that has me wanting to try it. That would really add a ton of flavor to the finished dish.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Oh Jayne. It is worth it just for this dish! Thanks for writing!
Abbe Odenwalder says
It is delish! And I know pepperoni does sound weird, but it works! Thanks! Oh, yes very, very healthy. If you don't eat fried eggrolls to start... Just kidding!
Kitchen Riffs says
Sounds delish! I don't steam enough, and it's such a healthy way to cook. I love those Chinese steaming baskets, and as you say, they make great serving dishes, too. Really nice recipe - I'll have to look for some of that turkey pepperoni!