Skip to main content

Bo Zai Fan (Chinese Chicken and Mushroom Clay Pot Rice)

Chicken and mushrooms in clay pot with vegetables
Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky

This version of Bo zai fan, or Chinese clay pot rice, combines sweet-savory Chinese sausage with steamed chicken, earthy shiitake mushrooms, and tender bok choy. It’s the ultimate one-pot comfort food and a staple in Hong Kong cuisine. Once you have the technique down, this recipe is endlessly riffable, using other combinations of meats, seafood, and vegetables. Cooking in a clay pot helps the rice develop a crunchy bottom layer. Try to resist opening the lid while cooking—you will know the rice is done when you smell the distinct nutty aroma of well-toasted rice.

Cook’s Notes:If using a Dutch oven to make this dish, there may be too much liquid at the end as it’s not as porous as a clay pot. Uncover and let simmer until excess liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Then cover and let sit as directed.

To substitute dark soy sauce: Mix 1 tsp. regular soy sauce with ¼ tsp. molasses and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl.

Ingredients

4 servings

1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. dark soy sauce (see Cook’s note)
2 Tbsp. Shaoxing wine (Chinese rice wine) or dry sherry
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. oyster sauce
1 tsp. sugar
¼ tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1½" pieces
8 dried or fresh shiitake mushrooms
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 lap cheong (Chinese sausages), casings peeled, sliced ¼" thick
1 cup jasmine rice
1½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 small heads baby bok choy, leaves separated
1 scallion, thinly sliced on a diagonal
  1. Step 1

    Whisk together ginger, garlic, both soy sauces, wine, cornstarch, oyster sauce, sugar, and white pepper in a medium bowl. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.

    Step 2

    If using dried shiitake mushrooms, place in a small bowl and pour in hot water to cover by a few inches (you can use a small plate to help them stay submerged). Let mushrooms soak until caps are tender, at least 20 minutes. Squeeze out excess water with your hands.

    Step 3

    Trim any tough stems from dried or fresh mushrooms; discard. Halve caps, or slice if large.

    Step 4

    热油倒在一个中等煲或者荷兰烤箱/ medium-high heat. Add Chinese sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crispy, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate. (Leave fat in pot for cooking the rice.)

    Step 5

    Pour rice into same pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring to coat in fat, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, reducing heat to low if you see a lot of steam escaping, 10 minutes.

    Step 6

    Remove lid from pot (rice will be only partially cooked) and top rice with marinated chicken along with any marinade, spreading out pieces in an even layer. Add mushrooms and cooked sausage. Cover pot, increase heat to medium, and cook until rice is tender and beginning to turn crispy and smells nutty, 8–10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, arranging bok choy on top of rice 3 minutes before removing from heat, 5–7 minutes longer. Remove from heat and let sit (still covered) 10 minutes.

    Step 7

    Top chicken and rice with scallions and serve, scraping up some of the crispy rice with each serving.

Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Bo Zai Fan (Chinese Chicken and Mushroom Clay Pot Rice)?

Leave a Review

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Pork Vindaloo
In this fiery Indian classic, chunks of pork shoulder and succulent pork belly are cooked until tender in a tangy, spicy chile-vinegar sauce.
Yogurt-Marinated Chicken With Hot Honey and Herbs
Tenderizing yogurt makes the perfect marinade for grilled bone-in chicken thighs, which get even more flavor from chile-infused honey.
Butternut Squash With Red Lentils and Tamarind
In this masoor dal with butternut squash recipe, the earthy taste of the red lentils complements the roasted squash, while tamarind brings in lively flavors.
Grilled Mojo Pork Shoulder Steaks and Plantains
If you’ve only had pork shoulder when braised until shredded, this fresh, summery recipe shows you what else the cut can do.
Citrusy, Peanutty Pork With Rice Noodles
Inspired by salsa de cacahuate, this delightful sauce is spicy, rich, and velvety.
Spicy Sausage Ragù With Scissor-Cut Noodles
A quick sausage ragù with sweet-spicy gochujang and lots of butter. Excellent with handmade or store-bought noodles.
Kamo Soba (Buckwheat Noodle Soup With Duck)
Thinly sliced duck breast seared with leeks starts this beautiful bowl of noodle soup called kamo soba.
Chocolaty Chai
This sweet and spiced chai is a cross between gingery masala chai and rich hot cocoa—the best of both cozy drink worlds.