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Cantonese Chestnut Chicken and Shiitake Stew Recipe

Cantonese Chestnut Chicken and Shiitake Stew Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 27 reviews

This Cantonese-style chicken stew combines tender chicken, earthy shiitake mushrooms, and sweet chestnuts simmered in a rich soy-based sauce. A traditional home-style dish, comforting and deeply flavorful, often enjoyed during festive gatherings or as a hearty weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken:

  • 1 ½ lbs (700 g) chicken thighs, boneless, cut into chunks

Chestnuts:

  • 1 cup fresh or roasted chestnuts (peeled)

Shiitake Mushrooms:

  • 1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms (rehydrated in warm water, stems removed)

Aromatics:

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, sliced

Sauces & Seasonings:

  • 3 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (Chinese cooking wine)
  • 1 tsp sugar

Broth & Garnish:

  • 1 cup chicken broth or mushroom soaking water
  • 2 scallions, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare mushrooms & chestnuts: Rehydrate shiitake mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes, then slice. If using fresh chestnuts, boil and peel them, or use pre-roasted chestnuts.
  2. Brown the chicken: Heat oil in a wok or deep pan. Add chicken pieces and sear until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
  3. Build the aromatics: In the same pan, sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add shiitake mushrooms and chestnuts, stir-frying for 2 minutes.
  4. Simmer the stew: Return chicken to the pan. Add soy sauces, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat. Cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes, until chicken is tender and sauce is thickened.
  5. Finish and serve: Garnish with scallions and serve hot with steamed jasmine rice or Chinese cabbage.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, marinate chicken in soy sauce and Shaoxing wine for 15 minutes before cooking.
  • You can substitute chestnuts with lotus seeds for a variation.
  • Leftovers reheat well and taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cantonese, Chicken Stew, Shiitake Mushrooms, Chestnuts, Soy Sauce

Find it online: https://mbeams.com/cantonese-chestnut-chicken-and-shiitake-stew-recipe/