Arroz Caldo

cowpants's Note:

In my family we call this "Filipino sick people chicken & rice soup". It is a classic Filipino dish, but it really does make you feel better when you're under the weather. This is pretty porridge-y; add more chicken broth if you like it more soupy. The result depends a lot on how "sticky" your rice is and how much broth it absorbs. If fish sauce is unavailable, just add salt and pepper to your individual serving. We use kalamansi (Filipino kumquat) juice, but lemon or lime wedges are an acceptable substitute.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 10.0 cups

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 head garlic, minced (about 8-10 big cloves)
• 2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thick coin shapes (or microplaned)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 6 cups chicken broth (1 48-oz package)
• 1 1/2 cups rice (I prefer short-grain like Calrose)
• green onion, sliced thin
• garlic, minced, fried golden brown and crispy
• egg, hard-cooked
• fish sauce
• lemon juice (or kalamansi juice, Filipino kumquat)

Directions:

1. Heat a stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add vegetable oil. Add onions, garlic, and ginger. Season lightly with salt and pepper. (I season lightly especially if it's for a sick person; also, fish sauce will add saltiness later.) Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add chicken. Cook, stirring, until chicken is no longer pink.
2. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add rice, and simmer until rice is soft, about 30-40 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
3. Before serving, remove the ginger coins (or leave it in to surprise people). Dish into bowls and garnish each helping with sliced green onions, crisp-fried garlic, and a slice of hard-boiled egg. Season to taste with the salty fish sauce and lemon or kalamansi juice. (If desired, thin with a little more chicken stock or water.).

Reviews

[Linky]

You don't have to be sick to enjoy this soup! The added fish sauce and ginger makes it just a little bit different than run-of-the-mill chicken soup. Thanks for posting! made for Spring 2012 PAC