Emerging Hakka Classic

To my taste, Chef Jin Hua Li’s signature dish, chicken with preserved mustard greens, has the potential to become a Hakka classic. The San Francisco chef created this festive stuff ed chicken packed with Hakka flavors for Chinese New Year. It reminds me of a Chinese version of Thanksgiving turkey and gravy. Chef Li stuffs a whole chicken with a mixture of preserved mustard greens, dark mushrooms, and pork. He then braises the bird in broth and finishes it with a sauce created from the umami-rich pan juices.