Jellied Chicken and Coriander "Terrine"

Preparation

1. Step 1

   In a 3-quart saucepan simmer broth, Sherry, soy sauce, gingerroot, scallions, star anise, and salt, covered, 25 minutes. Add chicken and cook at a bare simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. Cool chicken in liquid, uncovered, 1 hour.

   Step 2

   Transfer chicken to a bowl, reserving cooking liquid, and tear into thin shreds. Chill chicken, covered, while making aspic.

   Step 3

   Pour reserved cooking liquid through a fine sieve lined with a dampened paper towel into a bowl. Measure liquid and add enough cold water (about 1/2 cup) to measure 3 cups total. Return liquid to cleaned pan.

   Step 4

   In a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water to soften. Stir gelatin mixture into cooking liquid and heat over moderate heat, stirring, until gelatin is dissolved (do not boil).

   Step 5

   Toss chicken with coriander and arrange evenly in a 2-quart terrine or loaf pan. Pour aspic slowly over chicken mixture. Chill terrine, covered, until firm, at least 6 hours, and up to 2 days.

2. Make sauce:

   Step 6

   In a small bowl stir together hoisin sauce and vinegar until smooth.

   Step 7

   Run a thin knife around edge of terrine and dip terrine or pan into a larger pan of hot water 10 seconds to loosen. Invert terrine onto a platter and serve with sauce and pickled ginger. Terrine will be quite fragile: If slicing, use an electric knife; otherwise, serve with a spoon.