Yunnan Steamed Chicken in Pot, or Qi Guo Ji (汽锅鸡), is a unique and flavorful dish from Yunnan Province, renowned for its special cooking method, tender chicken, and savory broth that preserves the original taste of the ingredients. The dish dates back over 200 years to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. According to legend, when Emperor Qianlong visited southern China and arrived in Lin’an Prefecture (modern-day Jianshui), a local chef named Yang Li utilized the distinctive properties of Jianshui pottery to create a steamer pot and made Qi Guo Ji with precious medicinal herbs. The emperor loved it, and the dish’s fame spread widely.
Cooking Method and Features
- Unique Utensil: Qi Guo Ji must be cooked using a Jianshui clay steamer pot. This pot has a rustic appearance and a unique structure, with a flat, round body and a hollow tube in the center. Steam passes through this tube into the pot, condenses on the lid, and drips back into the pot, blending with the essence of the chicken.
- Cooking Process: During preparation, a pot filled with water is placed below the steamer pot containing the chicken pieces. The chicken is entirely cooked by steam without adding any water. The broth is formed purely from the steam condensation, preserving the original flavor of the chicken.
- Ingredient Selection: Qi Guo Ji uses free-range chickens with balanced fat and lean meat, preferably a young hen about to lay eggs or a young rooster just starting to crow, ensuring tender meat and excellent texture. Ingredients like bamboo fungus, Xuanwei ham, and valuable Yunnan medicinal herbs such as Panax notoginseng, cordyceps, and gastrodia can be added to enhance the dish’s nutrition and flavor.
Taste and Nutritional Value
- Taste: Qi Guo Ji is famous for its tender chicken and flavorful broth, maintaining the pure taste and nutritional essence of the chicken throughout the steaming process. The broth is clear and bright, with a rich, deep flavor.
- Nutritional Value: Since Qi Guo Ji is prepared without excessive seasonings and cooking oil, it retains the maximum nutritional value of the ingredients. The chicken is rich in high-quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals, providing substantial health benefits. The added medicinal herbs further enhance the dish’s nourishing properties.
Cultural Significance
Qi Guo Ji, as a signature dish of Yunnan, is beloved locally and attracts many tourists. It represents the unique charm and regional characteristics of Yunnan cuisine. The culinary technique of Qi Guo Ji has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Yunnan Province, showcasing its deep cultural roots and historical value.