A signature winter activity in Guangdong, China==kiln-roasted chicken
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2024 2:15 pm
For people in Guangdong, a must-do winter activity is heading to the fields or vegetable gardens to make *kiln-roasted chicken*. It's a traditional winter pastime that typically involves building a simple mud oven, as shown in the picture below.
Since it had just rained and the traditional mud oven couldn’t be built, we decided to try a new method. We dug a hole about 30cm deep, covered it with a metal sheet and some wet mud. While burning the fire, we dried the mud, which then acted as insulation. The fire-burning process lasted for over an hour.
While the fire was burning, we took the prepared chicken and gave it a massage, coating it thoroughly with marinade. This included barbecue seasoning, cumin powder, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other spices. After marinating for about an hour, the chicken was wrapped in aluminum foil, ready to be placed into the heated oven.
After burning the fire for over an hour, the mud had dried completely. We placed the wrapped chicken into the oven, then removed the metal sheet. The dried mud acted as insulation and provided continuous heat. To retain the temperature even further, we covered the dried mud with another layer of fresh mud. Unfortunately, we didn’t capture any pictures of this process.
After waiting for 40 minutes, it was time to uncover the mud and carefully take out the chicken and sweet potatoes. Be cautious during this process—it’s both hot and incredibly fragrant. The chicken was perfectly cooked, releasing an irresistible aroma. Take a look at my masterpiece!
The tender chicken legs and sweet potatoes were absolutely delicious—top-notch in flavor! We enjoyed them while they were still hot, and it didn’t take long for all the food to be devoured.
After finishing the meal, an idea came to mind: cleaning up this small river and raising some ornamental koi fish. Watching the fish swim freely in the water while I sit nearby, relaxed and carefree, would be a wonderful way to enjoy the weekend.
I should start preparing for the cleanup of this small river—my very own DIY project!
Since it had just rained and the traditional mud oven couldn’t be built, we decided to try a new method. We dug a hole about 30cm deep, covered it with a metal sheet and some wet mud. While burning the fire, we dried the mud, which then acted as insulation. The fire-burning process lasted for over an hour.
While the fire was burning, we took the prepared chicken and gave it a massage, coating it thoroughly with marinade. This included barbecue seasoning, cumin powder, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and other spices. After marinating for about an hour, the chicken was wrapped in aluminum foil, ready to be placed into the heated oven.
After burning the fire for over an hour, the mud had dried completely. We placed the wrapped chicken into the oven, then removed the metal sheet. The dried mud acted as insulation and provided continuous heat. To retain the temperature even further, we covered the dried mud with another layer of fresh mud. Unfortunately, we didn’t capture any pictures of this process.
After waiting for 40 minutes, it was time to uncover the mud and carefully take out the chicken and sweet potatoes. Be cautious during this process—it’s both hot and incredibly fragrant. The chicken was perfectly cooked, releasing an irresistible aroma. Take a look at my masterpiece!
The tender chicken legs and sweet potatoes were absolutely delicious—top-notch in flavor! We enjoyed them while they were still hot, and it didn’t take long for all the food to be devoured.
After finishing the meal, an idea came to mind: cleaning up this small river and raising some ornamental koi fish. Watching the fish swim freely in the water while I sit nearby, relaxed and carefree, would be a wonderful way to enjoy the weekend.
I should start preparing for the cleanup of this small river—my very own DIY project!
