Chicken on the bone slow cooked with star anise in a sweet and sour way - best enjoyed with a dish of stir fried vegetables and boiled fragrant rice. Star anise has a powerful amount of flavour and you need to decide how much is right for you - and your guests.

Ingredients - serves 4

8 chicken thighs, skin off
3 tbsp sunflower oil
a large onion, halved and sliced lengthways
2" of fresh root ginger, finely chopped
300ml Chicken or vegetable stock
4 tbsp soft light brown sugar
4 tbsp sweet sake cooking wine
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1-3 flowers of star anise ground in a pestle and mortar or with a rolling pin

Method

in a heavy casserole, brown the chicken pieces in sunflower oil, remove with a slotted spoon and put to one side.

Stir the onion into the oil and leave it to soften, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick then add the ginger. When the onion is soft and almost translucent return the chicken and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to the simmer and turn down the heat so that the liquid simmers gently. Cover with a lid and leave for an hour, turning the chicken just once.

Serve with rice and greens.