Like some popular food, Beggar’s Chicken has a Chinese folklore tale behind it … this is a dish that originated from Beijing, China and it is said that a starving, homeless beggar had stolen a chicken from someone’s farm but realized he had no stove nor any tools to cook it so he built a fire and killed the chicken, wrapped it in slush and put the mud wrapped chicken over the fire to cook. Just then, the Emperor and his entourage happened to be passing by and the Emperor was attracted by the aroma of the baked chicken. The Emperor stoped and dined with the beggar, demanding to know how such delicious meal is cooked. “Beggar’s Chicken” thus is subsequently added to the list of dishes served at the Imperial Court.
It is the baking in the flour dough that makes this bird most intriguing, tender tasty and Beggar’s Chicken is packed full of flavour that is most unique!!
It is said that in the “Chinese kitchen”, the Chinese are not too happy with the name “Beggar’s Chicken” hence in Beijing, “Beggar’s Chicken” is not popularly known as “Fu Guai Gai” or “Rich & Noble Chicken” —foodisready
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