Chicken Soup
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Left: Herbs typically used in Chinese Chicken tonic soup include Dang Gui, Codonopsis, Red Date and Goji berries. |
Chicken may be prepared by boiling half or a whole chicken in sufficient water. It may also be prepared with the frame or bones of a chicken, and often organs and the head will be boiled along with it.
The Chinese cut a whole chicken into pieces, boil briefly in water, then strain, and add the chicken to fresh water and simmer for 45 minutes or longer. Boiling the chicken briefly and discarding the water produces a cleaner and clearer broth.
When herbs are added, there are 2 ways: then Herbs may be added to cut chicken and the lot boiled for 30–40 minutes. This will give a firm chicken which can be eaten on Rice. If, however, the Chicken with bones are cooked slowly for 1 or 2 hours before adding the Herbs, the resulting broth is much richer and the Chicken, softer.
Western Chicken Soup Recipes
Traditional Western Restorative Chicken Soup
Take a whole Cock or Hen and stuff it with the following:
Onion, 4 oz.
Lemon peel, half oz.
Savory
Hyssop
Parsley
Balm
Borage, of each 1 handful
Thyme
Oregano, half a handful each
This is then gently boiled in a large covered pot for 4–5 hours. It is then strained, pressed, and salt and a little Lemon juice is added.
Other herbs can be substituted for some of the above including Basil, Marjoram, Sage etc. Some Raisins, Currants, Dates or Chinese Red Dates can be added to sweeten.
Some prepared a tonic broth from tonic roots such as Sea Holly, Elecampane, Salep (Orchis), Scorzonera, Parsnip along with fruits such as Raisins, Currants or Dates, together with some herbs like Basil, Oregano or Savory.
Western Alterative Chicken Soup
Alterative Chicken Soup cleanses the Blood while nourishing and restoring. There were many variations.
Prepare as above with one of the following groups:
i. Sarsaparilla and China root
ii. Parsley, Chicory, Endive, Dandelion, Agrimony, Plantain etc
This cleanses while strengthening, and can be used in chronic cases with deficiency. Previously applied to Syphilis, chronic Joint disease, chronic Skin diseases etc.
Chinese Chicken Soup Recipes
1. Basic Chinese Tonic Chicken Herb Soup
Once the Chicken soup has been made, add the following:
Dang Gui, 6 grams
Codonopsis Dang Shen 6–9 grams
Red Chinese Dates, 4
Goji berries, a spoonful
fresh Ginger crushed, a good chunk
Simmer gently, covered, for another 30–45 minutes.
This is a pleasant tonic soup, strengthening the Qi and Blood, and is light and easy to digest.
It is regularly used by the Chinese as a Health tonic, and is particularly good for women following menstruation.
The clear broth can be taken as an accompaniment with dinner.
2. Chicken and Goji Soup
Olive oil, 2 tablespoons
Garlic minced, 2 cloves
a knob of Ginger, peeled and minced
1 whole Chicken, skinned, and cut into pieces with bones
Green (long) Onions, 2 medium, roots and tips removed, chopped
Rice (cooking) Wine or Dry Sherry
Soy Sauce 2 teaspoonfuls
Goji berries, 2 tablespoons
1 ½ liters Water or Stock
Dark Sesame oil, a splash
1. Heat oil and brown the Garlic and Ginger
2. Add the Chicken, Green Onions, Wine, Soy Sauce, Goji and Water
3. Bring to boil, then simmer for 30–40 minutes, covered (until the chicken is cooked)
4. Add a splash of dark Sesame oil, serve as a soup or on Rice
This is very good to nourish Blood. Codonopsis, Astragalus, Dang Gui and Goji can be added.
3. Radish, Mushroom, Black Fungus and Chicken Soup
Chicken legs, 2
Daikon (long) Radish, 500 grams
Black Fungus 30 grams
Dried Mushroom, 5 pieces
Garlic, 3 cloves
Fresh Ginger, 3 slices
Spring Onion, 2
Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon
1. Soak Black Fungus and Mushroom for 30 minutes, rinse, cut
2. Wash the Chicken legs, peel, and cut into pieces
3. Peel and dice Garlic, Spring Onion, Radish
4. Mix Chicken, Black Fungus, Mushroom, Ginger and Garlic with 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce and pinch of Salt
5. Bring 2 liters of water to boil with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in it.
6. Add the Chicken mixture, cover, bring to boil, then add the Radish, cover, and again bring to boil.
7. Add the Onion and remove from Heat, and season with Salt.
Tonifies Liver and Kidney, nourishes Yin, clears Phlegm-Heat and detoxifies. It benefits digestion, promotes Urine. It is useful in chronic digestive disorders including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and can be used in Diabetes, chronic Debility.
It contains many minerals.