Black Chicken Tonic Soup

In my neighbourhood there is a restaurant that specialise in food as medicine. This is a version of the black chicken soup they make. It is considered a general tonic that helps boost energy levels. Black chickens are not always easy to find outside of a good Chinese butcher but you can use a small chicken instead. Black chicken are a small chicken called Chinese Silky and are fluffy and white but with black skin. Dried longan, red dates, black sesame oil, rock sugar, ginseng and Asian celery can be found at Asian grocers. The soup is actually steamed but you can also boil it.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1  chicken, black
• 10  longans, dried (long yan rou)
• 6  red dates (hong zao)
• 2  spring onions
• 2  celery ribs, Asian
• 2  cm gingerroot, sliced thin
• 1  tablespoon coriander leaves, chopped

• Marinade

• 5  tablespoons rice wine
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 100  ml  sesame oil, black
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 10  g  rock sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pepper

Directions

1. Wash and dry the chicken.
2. Mix the marinade ingredients and pour over chicken. Let sit for 30mins.
3. Put a steamer on the stove and bring water to the boil.
4. Place the chicken and marinade into a deep dish and scatter the other ingridents over the chicken. Pour in water making sure the chicken is covered.
5. Cover the dish either with a lid or cling wrap. Place in the steamer and steam for 2 hours.
6. Alternatively you can place all the ingredients into a heavy based pan and slowly bring to the a soft rolling boil. Turn down the heat very low so the soup is not quite simmering and cooking for 1 1/2hours. You may need to check the level of the liquid and if you need to add more water make sure it is boiling water.