Mary Berry’s Hoisin Chicken with Pancakes
Marinated in a flavour-packed spiced Hoisin sauce, this crowd-pleasing chicken dish makes for a fun Friday night fakeaway for the whole family.
Introduction
Think of crispy duck in a smart Chinese restaurant – this is a take on that. Using a whole roast chicken with Chinese flavours, this recipe is not crispy but tender and fun to make. Lucinda, who helps us, did this for her son Henry’s 10th birthday party and all the children loved it! Rice pancakes can be bought easily in supermarkets or delis.
Ingredients
| 1 x 1.5kg (3lb 5oz) | whole chicken |
| 20-30 | small Chinese rice pancakes |
| ½ | large cucumber, deseeded and thinly sliced into matchsticks |
| Large bunch of | spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced into matchsticks |
| 2 large | carrots, peeled and thinly sliced into matchsticks |
| For the marinade: | |
|---|---|
| 2 tbsp | hoisin sauce, plus extra to serve |
| 2 tsp | tomato purée |
| 2 tbsp | Chinese five spice powder |
| 3 tbsp | soy sauce |
| 2 tbsp | runny honey |
| 2 tsp | rice or white wine vinegar |
| 1 large | garlic clove, finely grated |
Method
Measure all the marinade ingredients into a large dish. Mix well, then add the chicken. Using your hands, rub the marinade into the chicken and leave to marinate in the fridge for 1–4 hours.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6 and line a roasting tin with non-stick baking paper.
Place the chicken in the prepared tin and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour any excess marinade from the bowl over the chicken. Roast in the oven for about 1–1¼ hours, covering the chicken with foil after the first 30 minutes, until cooked through. Expect it to be very dark brown, almost black, but not burnt. Leave the chicken to rest for 15 minutes, covered in the foil.
Warm the pancakes in a steamer or a microwave according to the packet instructions.
Carve the chicken into slices and shred the leg meat. Arrange the chicken, pancakes and prepared vegetables in the centre of the table with a small bowl of hoisin sauce on the side. Everyone can help themselves!
To serve, spread a little hoisin sauce on a pancake, then place some chicken and vegetables in the centre. Roll up tightly to make a small roll.
Mary’s Tips:
Chicken can be marinated a day ahead.
Chicken freezes well raw and marinated.
