Today was one of those days in Milwaukee where it was just a gloomy day filled with rain and cold temperatures, and coming off a recent weekend at a water park, this was one dish I was looking forward to making. A dish so comforting that it warmed the soul.
Ingredients:
- Whole chicken, cleaned and cut up
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 inches of fresh ginger, skin removed, smashed and thinly sliced
- 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 large onion, rough chopped
- 3 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
- 1 cup of rice water (soak rice in water for an hour, drain and reserve water)
- 6 cups of chicken stock, warmed
- 1/4 of frozen spinach, thawed, and drained or 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- Pinch of pepper
- Cooked white rice (optional)
- chili flakes (garnish, optional)
- thinly sliced green onion (garnish, optional)
Begin by bringing a large soup pot to a medium-high heat. Once heated, add in the olive oil. Add in your ginger, garlic, and onion and stir fry for a few minutes, being careful not to burn anything. During this time, add the stock and rice water to a pot, and begin to warm it up. Next, add in your chicken pieces, skin side down to the onion, ginger, and garlic mixture. Brown the chicken, for about 7-10 minutes, then add in the fish sauce. Next, add in your stock, spinach, and rice water, bringing it all together, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and walk away. Come back in about 45 minutes to an hour.
To a large soup bowl, add a large spoonful of cooked white rice. Ladle in your the broth, get some chicken pieces in there (drum stick, thigh, wing, or breast), add a bit of black pepper, chili flakes, and green onion.
Trust me on this, it is a sure winner on any day of the week, but when you are looking for comfort on a rainy, cold day, this one is a must. I hope you enjoy.