Description
The absolute ace of Taiwanese taverns. Bone-in chicken is boiled down with three condiments (Three Cups): 'sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice wine' until dry, finished with massive Taiwan basil for an intense aroma.
Restaurants serving Three Cup Chicken
Researching
We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Bone-in chicken thigh
- Jiucengta(Taiwanese Basil)
- Black sesame oil
- Rice wine
- Soy sauce
- Ginger
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Three Cups Golden Ratio] Named for using '
- cup black sesame oil,
- cup soy sauce,
- cup rice wine' (modern recipes add sugar for sweet/savory).
- Chop bone-in chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
- Heat plenty of black sesame oil in a clay pot (or wok), slowly sauté massive sliced 'old ginger' and 'whole unpeeled garlic cloves' to transfer aroma without burning.
- Toss in chicken, stir-fry on high until browned.
- Add soy sauce, rice wine, and rock sugar. Add absolutely no water.
- Cover and boil down on high, tossing until the bottom liquid completely evaporates and the sauce glazes the chicken.
- [Biggest Point] Right before turning off heat, dump a pot-full of raw 'Jiucengta (Taiwanese basil)', cover to steam for a few seconds, exploding the exotic basil aroma to finish.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Taiwanese basil and Black sesame oil aroma
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Boneless chicken thigh, Sweet basil
Pairing
Ice-cold Taiwan Beer or White Rice
Trivia
[Hardcore] A signature menu so iconic it's said 'You can tell the level of a Taiwanese tavern by ordering Sanbei Ji'. Using no water makes the flavor intense, demanding white rice and beer with violent basil/sesame oil aroma.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Served in a hot clay pot; grab basil and chicken together, wash down with beer, then bite into the fluffy whole garlic cloves!
Allergen
Chicken, Wheat, Soy, Sesame