Braised Chicken Legs with Herbs

Braised Chicken Legs with Herbs recipe videos

Braised Chicken Legs with Herbs is a savory, comforting dish featuring chicken legs slow-cooked in a flavorful broth infused with aromatic herbs like ginger, scallions, and sometimes star anise or cinnamon. Originating from Chinese home cooking, it's a classic example of 'red braising' (hong shao), a technique that uses soy sauce and spices to create a rich, dark sauce. The dish is beloved for its tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and deeply savory, slightly sweet sauce.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is high in protein from the chicken and moderate in fat, especially if using skin-on legs. It provides key nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins from the meat, with the herbs adding antioxidants. A typical serving (one chicken leg with sauce) is roughly 300-400 calories, depending on the amount of oil and sugar used.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	450 kcal
Protein	35 g
Carbs	8 g
Fat	30 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	3 g
Sodium	800 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Phosphorus	280 mg
Niacin (B3)	8 mg
Vitamin B6	0.6 mg
Selenium	25 mcg
Iron	2 mg
Zinc	3 mg
Vitamin K	15 mcg

Per 1 typical serving with sauce (approx. 300 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, this dish embodies the Chinese philosophy of 'food as medicine,' where herbs like ginger and scallions are believed to have warming properties that aid digestion and circulation. Nutritionally, slow braising helps break down collagen in the chicken, making it easier to digest while retaining more nutrients compared to high-heat cooking methods.