MIL's Garlic & Goji Chicken

When my MIL was here, she cooked up this delicious chinese style braised chicken with spices, garlic and goji berries. I've never had this before and thought it was really good and the big plus; very easy to cook. I don't have her exact recipe but I knew what went into that pot of braised chicken.  So, a couple weeks after the inlaws flew back home, I decided to replicate her dish.

In this recipe, I added a little more goji berries (wolf berries) than my MIL did...since the Chinese believe that Goji Berries are good for you. I found a link here that gives you the benefits of these red berries. Here's the recipe to this very simple Garlic & Goji Chicken dish.

GARLIC & GOJI BERRY CHICKEN RECIPE
*Serves 3-4

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken Thighs, Cut into 3-4 pieces
• 1-1/2 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce
• 1 Tbsp Rice Wine
• 2 Tbsp (dried) Goji Berries/Wolfberries
• 8 Cloves Garlic, Skin on & smashed
• 2-3 Inch Cinnamon Stick
• 4 Star Anise
• 2 Cups Water
• 1 Tbsp Oil

Method

In a medium pot, heat 1 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Add garlic, star anise and cinnamon stick and stir fry until fragrant. Add chicken, turn heat to medium high and stir fry for 1-2 minutes. Add soy sauce, rice wine, goji berries and water. Reduce heat to medium. Cover the chicken and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove the "white scum" and as much oil layer as possible. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and continue cooking for another 20-25 minutes. The chicken will be very tender by then.

Serve immediately with some steamed white rice.

Simply June