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Braised Chicken with Chestnuts

Tender young chicken braised with sweet栗子 until meltingly soft. A comforting one-pot wonder that comes together in under an hour.

35 min
Medium
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Braised Chicken with Chestnuts

Story

This quick weeknight favorite combines tender chicken with buttery roasted栗子 in a savory sauce. The pressure cooker does all the heavy lifting—just set it and forget it.

Ingredients

chicken pieces (thighs or drumsticks) 500g
fresh chestnuts 200g
light soy sauce 2 tablespoons
cornstarch 1 tablespoon
vegetable oil 2 tablespoons
ginger slices 4
garlic cloves 3, smashed

Instructions

1

Prep the chicken

Rinse chicken pieces and pat dry. Toss with soy sauce and cornstarch until evenly coated, then drizzle with a little oil and mix again. Let sit while you prep the chestnuts.

2

Prep the chestnuts

Score an X on each chestnut. Boil for 2 minutes, then drain. While still hot, peel off the outer shell and inner skin. Cut any large ones in half.

3

Start the aromatics

Heat oil in a wide pot or pressure cooker insert over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic, stir until fragrant—about 30 seconds. Slide in the chicken and spread into a single layer.

4

Brown the chicken

Cook without moving for 2 minutes until golden underneath, then flip and cook another minute. Add the chestnuts and stir everything together.

5

Pressure cook

Pour in enough boiling water to nearly cover the ingredients (about 1 cup). Lock the lid on, bring to high pressure, then reduce to low and cook 10 minutes. Let pressure release naturally.

6

Finish and serve

Taste and adjust seasoning—add a pinch of salt if needed. The sauce should be glossy and coats the chicken beautifully. Serve hot over steamed rice.