Chikuzenni

also called 筑前煮 · chikuzenni · chikuzenni · ちくぜんに · 煮しめ · nishime · gameni · がめ煮 · simmered chicken and root vegetables

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Chikuzenni: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
Fried before it is simmered, then simmered until it is dry again. Ratio: dashi 10 : soy 1 : mirin 1 : sake 1.
1 lb(450 g; boneless, in 1 1/2-inch pieces)chicken thighsfry 6 min in sesame oilsimmer 20 min under a drop lidcook dry, uncoveredscatter over
4 oz(115 g; shaved and soaked 5 min)burdock root
5 oz(150 g; in 1/4-inch half-moons)lotus root
1(rolled-cut into wedges)carrot
5 oz(150 g; torn into pieces)konnyaku
1 Tbs(15 mL)toasted sesame oil
6dried shiitakesoak 20 min
1 cup(240 mL)warm water
2 cups(475 mL)dashi
3 Tbs(45 mL)soy sauce
3 Tbs(45 mL)mirin
3 Tbs(45 mL)sake
1 Tbssugar
12(blanched 1 min, halved on the bias)snow peas
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.16 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2fry 6 min in sesame oil

3soak 20 min

4simmer 20 min under a drop lid

goes in with what steps 2 and 3 made

6scatter over

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 50 min1 of 5 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 16 min
If you get it wrong
Forgiving — left wet it keeps two days instead of four, and it turns first at the konnyaku, which sours before anything looks wrong
  1. soak 20 min

    20 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. fry 6 min in sesame oil

    6 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. simmer 20 min under a drop lid

    20 minwalk away20 min in

  4. cook dry, uncovered

    10 minneeds you(we think)40 min in

  5. scatter over

    not timed50 min in

You'll need heavy pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Chikuzenni
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: japanese, chicken, root vegetables, dashi, simmered, make ahead, new year
>> counters: Japanese Home Cooking
>> aka: 筑前煮, chikuzenni, chikuzenni, ちくぜんに, 煮しめ, nishime, gameni, がめ煮, simmered chicken and root vegetables
>> pairs-with: dashi, gohan
>> servings: 6
>> time: 1 hr
>> slack: forgiving — left wet it keeps two days instead of four, and it turns first at the konnyaku, which sours before anything looks wrong

>> step: Fried before it is simmered, then simmered until it is dry again. Ratio: dashi 10 : soy 1 : mirin 1 : sake 1.
The one 煮物 that is fried before it is simmered and then simmered until it is dry again.

>> step: soak 20 min
Soak @dried shiitake{6} in @warm water{1%cup}(240 mL) ~soak{20%min}, until the caps are floppy through the stem.

>> step: fry 6 min in sesame oil
Fry @chicken thighs{1%lb}(450 g; boneless, in 1 1/2-inch pieces), @burdock root{4%oz}(115 g; shaved and soaked 5 min), @lotus root{5%oz}(150 g; in 1/4-inch half-moons), @carrot{1}(rolled-cut into wedges) and @konnyaku{5%oz}(150 g; torn into pieces) in @toasted sesame oil{1%Tbs}(15 mL) in a #heavy pot{} ~fry{6%min}, until the chicken has gone white outside and every vegetable face is glossy.

>> step: simmer 20 min under a drop lid
Pour @dashi{2%cups}(475 mL), @soy sauce{3%Tbs}(45 mL), @mirin{3%Tbs}(45 mL), @sake{3%Tbs}(45 mL) and @sugar{1%Tbs} over @&(~1)fried chicken and roots{} with @&(2)soaked shiitake and their water{}, lay a drop lid on and ~simmer{20%min}.

>> step: cook dry, uncovered
Lift the drop lid off @&(~1)pot{} and ~reduce{10%min}, shaking it rather than stirring, until there is a spoonful of syrupy liquid left and everything has taken a shine.

>> step: scatter over
Scatter @snow peas{12}(blanched 1 min, halved on the bias) over @&(~1)chikuzenni{}, off the heat, so they stay green in the box all week.