5 from 12 votes
Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)
Three Cup Chicken, or San Bei Ji, is a savory dish featuring party-size chicken wings cooked with garlic, ginger, and optional dried red chili in a sauce of sesame oil, soy sauces, Shaoxing wine, and sugar. The wings are browned and simmered to absorb the rich sauce, then tossed with fresh Thai basil, which adds aromatic notes. The sauce thickens as it rests, creating a flavorful glaze coating the tender chicken. Served hot with rice, it includes flavorful garnishes like wilted basil and garlic pieces.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
4
people
Calories:
585 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 lb chicken wings party size
- 2 tablespoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 3 tablespoon sesame oil divided
- 4-5 thin slices ginger fresh
- 10 cloves garlic sliced in half
- 4-5 red chili optional, dried
- 1/2 cup Shaoxing wine Chinese rice wine
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cup Thai basil loosely packed
Instructions
- (Optional but recommended) Trim off the extra loose skin from the chicken party wings with a pair of scissors. Discard the skin.
- Heat oil and a tablespoon of sesame oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Brown chicken wings until slightly golden. Add the garlic and ginger slices; toss well.
- Splash in some shaoxing rice wine. Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and dried chilies (optional); toss well until all the wings are coated. Reduce the heat to medium and cover with a lid. Simmer the wings in the sauce for 15 minutes.
- Uncover and increase the heat to high. Continue to cook to reduce the sauce a little, about 3 minutes. Add the fresh Thai basil leaves (as much as you want) and stir. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before you serve. The sauce will thicken more as it rests. Serve hot with rice.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Trim excess loose skin from party wings before cooking to improve texture.
- Serve San Bei Ji hot with steamed rice and spoon sauce over chicken and rice for full flavor.
- Enjoy not only the wings but also wilted basil leaves and garlic slices from the pan.
- Complement with side dishes like garlic sauce blanched choy sum, broccoli rabe salad, or pickled cucumber salad.
- Best consumed fresh as leftovers may not retain sauce texture and flavor.
Nutrition Information
Calories
585kcal
(29%)
Carbohydrates
12g
(4%)
Protein
31g
(62%)
Fat
42g
(65%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
12g
(71%)
Monounsaturated Fat
18g
(90%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
118mg
(39%)
Sodium
1247mg
(52%)
Potassium
361mg
(8%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
888IU
(18%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
59mg
(6%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 585
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 585kcal | 29% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 42g | 65% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 12g | 71% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 118mg | 39% |
| Sodium | 1247mg | 52% |
| Potassium | 361mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 888IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 59mg | 6% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.