Hoisin chicken with a bean salad

Some weekdays all you want to do is reach for a bottle of sauce and come up with dinner that is not only kid friendly but also gets made on its own. The ones with kids would understand this perfectly.

Hoisin chicken takes minutes to put together, works beautifully for children who love to get their fingers and faces all sticky (adults too!) and with a side portion of bright greens it makes the mum in you feel happy that your child is being fed well:)

Having said how it makes my little girl happy, let me tell both the DH & I love its sweet, salty and spicy glaze that comes from the perfect combination of the hoisin and the chinese five spice powder. Its a perfect family meal for when you are too tired to cook or you to no time to marinate.

Hoisin chicken with a bean salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

100 ml Hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon Chinese chilli sauce

2 teaspoons grated ginger

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder

8 chicken thighs (About a kilo)

Bean salad (recipe below)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1.Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius. Line a baking tray with foil. 

2. Mix the three sauces, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and the chinese five spice powder in a large bowl.
3.Add the chicken and leave it to marinate in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Arrange the chicken on the baking tray and bake for 30-35 minutes. serve with the bean salad and a generous sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.

Bean salad

Ingredients
200 gms beans, cut into 5 cms lengths
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons rice vinegar ( you could even use the regular one)
2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

1. Blanch the beans in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes until they are bright and tender yet crisp

2.Rinse under cold running water and drain well

3.Combine all the other ingredients to make a dressing.

4. Drizzle over the beans.

I also added some fresh cucumber (in a simple vinegar and sugar dressing) to the meal. 

Image : Personal album

Recipe:Adapted from Bill's Everyday Asian by Bill Granger
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