三杯鸡 (Sān Bēi Jī)
Three Cup Chicken – Taiwan's Most Famous Home-Cooked Dish
Why This Recipe Works
- Three ingredients in equal amounts — soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. The math is built into the name.
- Fresh Thai basil added at the very end perfumes the entire dish. It's the ingredient that makes this unmistakably Taiwanese.
Ingredients
| Amount | Ingredient | Notes | Substitute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 680 g (1.5 lb) | chicken thighs鸡腿肉 | bone-in, skin-on, chopped into chunks | boneless thighs (reduce cook time to 15 min) |
| 45 ml (3 tbsp) | sesame oil香油 | toasted/deep amber | — |
| 45 ml (3 tbsp) | soy sauce酱油 | — | — |
| 45 ml (3 tbsp) | Shaoxing wine绍兴料酒 | — | dry sherry |
| 15 g (1 tbsp) | sugar白糖 | — | — |
| 14 g (1-inch) | fresh ginger生姜 | sliced into coins | — |
| 50 g (10 cloves) | garlic大蒜 | whole, lightly smashed — don't mince! | — |
| 1.0 large handful (about 20 leaves) | Thai basil九层塔 | — | Italian basil (different but still good) |
Instructions
Sear chicken(7 min)
Heat sesame oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic. Cook 1 minute until fragrant. Add chicken pieces skin-side down. Sear 3-4 minutes until golden. Flip and sear 2 more minutes.
Braise(20 min)
Add soy sauce, wine, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook 20 minutes, turning chicken once halfway through. The sauce will reduce to a glossy glaze.
Finish with basil(1 min)
Uncover, increase heat to high. Add Thai basil leaves. Toss for 30 seconds until the basil wilts and releases its aroma. The kitchen will smell incredible. Serve immediately over rice.
Pro Tips for Western Kitchens
Whole garlic cloves (smashed, not minced) slowly melt into the sauce, becoming sweet and mellow. This is intentional — don't mince them.
If you can't find Thai basil, Italian basil works. The flavor is different (Thai basil is more anise-like) but the dish is still delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Three Cup Chicken?
The classic recipe uses exactly 1 cup each of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. Modern recipes reduce the amounts (it's very rich at 1 cup each!) but keep the equal ratio.
Nutrition
Per serving (approximate values)