Soya-glazed chicken with buckwheat ‘risotto’, pickled cucumber and XO sauce

For the ‘risotto’, bring 3L salted water to a boil. Add the buckwheat and boil until just tender, 8 minutes. Strain, refresh under cold running water and rinse off excess starch. Drain well.

For the chicken, preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat the oil in 2 pans over high heat. Place 2 breasts in each pan, skin side down, and lower the heat to medium-low. Render the fat from the skin until golden and crispy, 3 minutes. Brush with the sweetened soya and cook the breasts in the oven, 6 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to rest, 1 minute, before brushing with more soya and slicing.

For the pickled cucumber, heat the 125ml (½ cup) olive oil until very hot. Add the Szechwan and strain immediately, reserving the oil. Allow the oil to cool, then add the remaining ingredients – except the cucumber – and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Dress the cucumber with the pickle 10 minutes prior to serving and drain well.

For the bok choi, heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and briefly sauté the bok choi.

For the XO sauce, heat the 100ml olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli and fry until softened. Add the anchovies, shrimp paste, bacon and mushrooms and cook, 2 minutes. Add the sherry, Shaoxing and vinegar and allow to reduce by half. Add the stocks and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 hours. Remove from heat, add the Kombu and set aside to infuse, 30 minutes. Strain. Before serving, reheat to a simmer, sprinkle over the Xantana or normal corn starch and whisk until smooth. Season with fish sauce to taste.

Returning to the ‘risotto’, heat a little olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ginger and spring onion and cook, 30 seconds. Add the cooked buckwheat and stir to combine. Add the stock, bring to a simmer and cook until the buckwheat swells and becomes tender, 3 – 4 minutes Remove from heat.

Spoon a little XO sauce into centre of each plate. Add some buckwheat ‘risotto’ and top with some sliced chicken and pickled cucumber. Add some sautéed bok choi, top with more chicken and finish with a scattering of radish and microherbs to serve.