Stewed Chicken in Beer at Nanli Lake

Stewed Chicken in Beer at Nanli Lake

　　Stewed Chicken in Beer at Nanli Lake

　　Stewed Chicken in Beer (English name: Stewed

　　Chicken

　　in

　　Beer

　　Ingredients:

　　1. One whole chicken.

　　(This is very important—bone-in whole chicken has a rich flavor that chopped or pre-packaged chicken simply can’t match)

　　2. Three cans of beer.

　　(Brand of your choice)

　　3. Ginger, scallions, and garlic

　　As needed.

　　4. One spoon of salt, half a spoon of sugar, and a small amount of pepper. (Salt enhances the umami of the chicken broth; sugar removes the bitterness of the beer)

　　Preparation:

　　1.

　　Cut the whole chicken into small pieces, rinse, and drain. Place them in a pot.

　　2. Add ginger, scallions, garlic, and all the seasonings.

　　3. Pour in three cans of beer, just enough to cover the chicken pieces.

　　4. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil over high heat.

　　5. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

　　Dipping Sauce: Put a small spoon of salt in a small bowl, then scoop up some chicken fat from the broth using a ladle and drizzle it into the salt. Use this as a dipping sauce for the chicken—it preserves the chicken’s original flavor. Of course, you can prepare it to your own taste.

　　Serve!!

　　This dish is rich in umami, with tender and fragrant chicken, and an intoxicating broth.

　　This is a well-known farmhouse eatery. The shop has been open for over five years and is located by Nanli Lake Reservoir. It's a bit hard to find—if you turn right at the entrance of Lihu Shuizhuang and go straight for about 150 meters, you’ll see a simple little restaurant waiting for you unassumingly. Alternatively, when you get there, just ask for the “Nanli Lake Stewed Chicken in Beer Shop” and you’ll be directed to it.

　　Perhaps because it’s situated by the beautiful lakeside, with several towering trees shading the entrance, overlooking the shimmering lake and the lush green forest belt, where the blue sky, white clouds, and forest are all reflected in the water, the scene feels very rustic and idyllic. I love the scenery here—sitting by the lake, enjoying delicious food while admiring the view and listening to the breeze… indulging in the feast. The owner initially didn’t allow us to take photos, fearing too many visitors from reading reports and not being able to accommodate everyone—a sign of his genuine simplicity. The cooked chicken is golden in color, made from authentic local chickens, and the aroma is incredibly enticing. It also contains goji berries, red dates, and black fungus. Even before it’s served, the unique fragrance stimulates our sense of smell and even teases our taste buds. When you put a piece of chicken in your mouth, the flavor is reminiscent of Cantonese cuisine—slightly sweet with an indescribable fragrance. This fragrance is truly special; the owner said it’s a proprietary recipe and wouldn’t share it with us. There’s also famous wild fish from Nanli Lake here. Friends who come to Nanli Lake for a leisurely vacation must not miss out on this earthly delicacy.

　　Address: Next to Nanshui Zhuang Hotel in Ding’an County, Hainan Province. Enter a small path for about 1 kilometer, cross a dam, and you’ll arrive. The place does brisk business, often fully booked on weekends, with many people driving from Haikou and Sanya to eat there.