Scallion-Baked Chicken (Xiang Cong Ju Ji)

Why people make this dish

Wenchang chicken is a well-regarded breed native to Hainan province, fed partly on coconut, and known for its tender, flavorful meat. It is wonderful as Hainanese chicken rice, served with ginger paste, green onion, a touch of salt and soy sauce, and a squeeze of lime. But on days when you want something even simpler, nothing beats this method: a pound of spring onions, a whole bird, a rice cooker, and no oven required. The result is a dish fragrant enough to make the whole kitchen smell wonderful. This is the Cantonese home cook’s answer to the question: what is the most flavorful thing I can make with the least effort?