Chinese poached chicken with ginger

Method

• Remove any fat and all the skin from the chicken. You will need to cut the skin here and there but don’t cut into the flesh. Rub inside and out with a little salt and set aside for 20 minutes.
• Put 3.6 litres of water, the spring onions and ginger in a large pan. Bring to the boil. Add the chicken and bring back to the boil. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Set aside for 1 hour.
• For the seasonings, heat a frying pan over a high heat. Add the peppercorns and shake for a few seconds. Coarsely crush in a mortar, mix with a little salt and tip into a bowl. Finely grate the ginger and mix with the garlic and soy in a second bowl. Finally, mix the vinegar, sugar and red chilli in a third bowl.
• Drain the chicken and cut into pieces. Arrange on a warm serving plate.
• Mix all the salad ingredients in a bowl. Serve with the chicken and seasonings, along with steamed basmati rice.