Vietnamese Chicken Stock Recipes

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, bring to a simmer the chicken stock, chicken breasts, chicken wings, scallions, garlic, cinnamon sticks, star anise and ginger. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Once the chicken breasts are cooked, remove them, set aside and shred when cooled. Continue to simmer all the other ingredients for 30 minutes. Then strain the broth through a colander to remove the solids and spices.
• Add the mushrooms, fish sauce and noodles to the strained stock. Simmer until noodles are still al dente, 4 to 5 minutes. Scoop some of the noodles into individual bowls. Top with some of the shredded chicken. Ladle lots of broth into each bowl. Garnish with the bean sprouts, jalapenos and fresh mint, and serve with fish sauce, hoisin sauce, Sriracha and lime wedges. Oh my.

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients plus 1 gallon of water in a large dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 3 hours.
• Strain broth through a cheesecloth lined colander into a bowl and discard the solids.

Steps:

• Place the chicken breast-side up in a high-sided pot that fits the chicken snugly. Fill the pot with cold water to about 1 inch above the chicken and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• While waiting for the water to boil, cut the ginger into very thin rounds, peel and quarter 1 of the onions and add them and 1 tablespoon salt to the pot.
• Once the water reaches a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, skimming and discarding any scum that floats to the surface of the poaching liquid, until an instant-read thermometer inserted between the breast and thigh of the chicken reads 165 degrees F, 30 to 35 minutes. (To take the temperature, use a pair of sturdy tongs to carefully lift the chicken out of the hot poaching liquid and insert the thermometer between the breast and thigh.)
• While the chicken is cooking, core the white and purple cabbages, very thinly slice them into ribbonlike strands and place the sliced cabbage in a large bowl; set aside.
• Fill a second large bowl a little more than halfway with equal parts ice and water, and use the tongs to add the cooked chicken to it; reserve the pot and poaching liquid. Leave the chicken in the ice water to cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel, halve and very thinly slice the remaining onion, and place it in a small bowl. Add the vinegar, oil, 1 teaspoon of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Use your hands to gently massage the vinegar mixture into the onions until they begin to wilt slightly. Let the marinated onions sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight.
• Discard the ice water, but keep the chicken in the bowl. Remove and discard the skin. Shred the chicken into large bite-size pieces; set aside.
• Add the chicken carcass to the poaching liquid, and return it to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, skimming off any fat and/or scum that floats to the surface. Strain the poaching liquid over a large bowl; discard the solids. Let this flavorful broth cool completely, and reserve it for another purpose. (It can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.)
• While the broth is cooking, make the dressing: Cook the remaining sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove to a small bowl and let cool slightly.
• While the sugar mixture is cooling, finely grate the garlic, halve and juice the limes (about 1/2 cup of juice total) and slice the chiles into thin rounds. Whisk the fish sauce into the cooled sugar mixture; add the garlic, lime juice and chiles.
• To assemble the salad, add the chicken, marinated onions (and any residual liquid) and lime dressing to the cabbage bowl. Tear the mint and basil leaves into the bowl, and gently toss to combine. Season with additional fish sauce if needed. Let the salad sit for 15 minutes so the flavors can marry, then transfer to a large platter. Place the peanuts and fried shallots in separate piles beside the salad. Just before serving, gently toss together the salad, peanuts and fried shallots and any liquid that has accumulated at the bottom of the platter (the liquid has a lot of great flavor). Serve with the fried shrimp chips.

Steps:

• First, prepare the chicken poaching liquid.
• In a small saucepan, combine chicken stock, lemon juice, ginger, sambal oelek or minced chilli, coriander roots and stems, and garlic.
• Add whole breasts of chicken (and any extra pieces) to liquid and set aside until needed.
• In a medium bowl, combine chopped coriander and mint leaves and the sliced green onion - remember to reserve some mint and coriander leaves for garnish. Set aside until needed.
• Now, make the dressing.
• Add all the dressing ingredients to a small food processor and blitz until combined. (Or chop or mince garlic very finely and combine with dressing ingredients in a sealable jar and shake vigorously).
• Taste and adjust flavours of dressing to suit your personal taste - it should be quite sweet, salty and tangy.
• Next, combine coleslaw ingredients in a large bowl - remembering to reserve some bean sprouts for garnish - and toss thoroughly.
• (I use the food processor to prepare the coleslaw - use the slicer blade for cabbage and onion, and the grater for the carrot).
• Now, put the saucepan with the chicken and poaching liquid on the stove over a medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes until chicken is heated through.
• Remove chicken from poaching liquid (discard poaching liquid) and shred chicken by tearing apart with two forks.
• Add warm chicken to the bowl with coriander and mint leaves, and green onions.
• Pour over 1/3 cup of the dressing and mix well.
• Pour the remaining dressing into the prepared coleslaw and mix well.
• To assemble, pile coleslaw into bowls, top with chicken mixture and garnish with reserved coriander, mint and bean sprouts.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a small frying pan on medium heat and gently cook the shallots and garlic until caramelised and golden brown (about 4-5 mins).
• In a large saucepan, add the caramelised shallots and garlic, lemongrass, ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick, coriander seeds, Chinese five-spice, peppercorns, sugar, fish sauce, chicken stock and chicken breasts. Cover with a lid and bring to a very gentle simmer for about 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, cook the noodles, following pack instructions, until just cooked through (do not over-cook). Rinse under cold water to prevent them sticking together. Drain and divide between serving bowls.
• Strain the soup through a sieve. Discard the spices. Shred the chicken and keep to one side. Return soup to the pot and bring to a boil. Season to taste with more fish sauce if needed.
• To serve, ladle piping hot soup into bowls of noodles and chicken, and top with spring onion, carrot, bean sprouts, and herbs, plus the chilli, crispy shallots and kaffir lime leaf if using. Serve with a lime wedge to squeeze over, and more fish sauce and chilli to taste.

Steps:

• Chicken stock:
• Bring chicken, onion, carrots, celery, and 5 quarts water to a boil in a large heavy pot. Reduce heat and simmer, skimming surface occasionally, until broth is flavorful and reduced by one-fourth, about 2 hours.
• Strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. (You should have about 4 quarts). Let cool, then cover and chill.
• DO AHEAD: Stock can be made 5 days ahead. Let cool, then cover and chill.
• Soup:
• Rub chicken legs with five-spice powder, grated ginger, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar; let sit 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat broiler. Spread out halved ginger and onions on a rimmed baking sheet and broil, turning occasionally, until charred all over, 15-20 minutes. Add lemongrass, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves to onions and ginger and broil until lightly charred and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Transfer onion mixture to a large heavy pot. Add chicken stock and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Add seasoned chicken, reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is just cooked through, 20-25 minutes.
• Using tongs, transfer chicken to a plate. Let cool slightly, then remove skin and bones; discard. Shred meat. Continue to simmer broth until it reduces slightly and flavors concentrate, 50-60 minutes. Season with more salt and/or sugar, if desired. Strain into a large bowl or clean pot.
• Cook noodles according to package directions. Using tongs or a spider, transfer noodles to a colander and run under cold water to stop cooking; set aside. (Keep pot of boiling water handy for reheating noodles.)
• Just before serving, return noodle cooking water to a boil. Place noodles in a fine-mesh sieve and lower into hot water to reheat, 30 seconds.
• Divide noodles among warm bowls and add shredded chicken and bean sprouts. Ladle hot broth over, dividing evenly. Serve with Spicy Pickled Shallots, herbs, and lime wedges for squeezing over.
• DO AHEAD: Seasoned chicken broth can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool, then cover and chill. Bring to a boil before serving.