Chicken Mushroom Porridge Recipes

CHICKEN & MUSHROOM PORRIDGE

Steps:

• Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add chicken bones, onion, garlic, carrot, ginger, peppercorns and leaves. Simmer gently (without breaking into a boil), uncovered, for around 1 hour. According to Keys to Good Cooking, bubbling clouds the stock with tiny particles of protein and fat; gently moving water allows the particles to cluster and either rise to the surface or fall to the bottom. The open pot cools the stock surface, dries the protein scum and begins the concentration process. Keep chicken bones, ginger and carrots in stock. Remove and discard everything else. Skim off most of the fat. Add pounded rice to stock and simmer, partially covered, for 15-20 mins until rice is cooked. Add chicken drumsticks and simmer for 12-15 mins. Add mushrooms and simmer for another 10-15 mins. Remove chicken bones from pot. Stir in fish sauce and pepper. Serve garnished with the sliced ginger and spring onion. Notes/Tips - Pounding is optional but it really helps to create a smoother porridge. - Always pound damp/wet rice: The first time I made this dish, I made the mistake of pounding dry rice. It was an uphill task and took up so much of my time. The second time, I pounded damp rice and it was SO EASY. - Stir occasionally throughout the simmering process to prevent scorching at the bottom of the pot. - Top up with hot water when mixture becomes too dry for your liking. - You can marinate the chicken bones and thighs with some cooking wine (I use hua diao jiu), salt and pepper prior to cooking. I like the marinade to sit for at least 2-3 hours. - Basmati rice is used for this recipe because this is the main type of rice in India. Thai jasmine rice (which is what my mother uses) will be beautiful too.

CHICKEN-AND-MUSHROOM CONGEE

Steps:

• In a pot, bring chicken, broth, rice, half of ginger, scallion white and light-green parts, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 4 cups water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; partially cover and simmer, stirring a few times, until chicken is just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Increase heat to medium and stir in mushrooms; boil, uncovered, until rice breaks down and mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, remove and discard skin and bones from chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Remove ginger and scallions from congee; discard.
• Thinly slice scallion tops; thinly slice remaining half of ginger into matchstick-size pieces. Stir chicken meat and any accumulated juices into congee and serve topped with scallion tops, ginger, sesame oil, and chili sauce.

CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM JUK WITH SCALLION SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine rice with enough water to cover by 2 inches. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot or Dutch oven, combine chicken, halved scallions, garlic, half the ginger and 4 quarts water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer, skimming any foam and fat that rises to the top. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer chicken to a large bowl and let stand until cool enough to handle. Strain liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard solids. You will have about 12 cups of broth.
• Clean out the pot or Dutch oven, then heat the sesame oil over low. Add drained rice and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and carrot, and stir until pan is very dry, scraping up the rice that sticks to the bottom, about 1 minute. Add 8 cups of the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. (Reserve or freeze remaining broth for future use.) Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced, rice is plump and a porridge forms, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, julienne the remaining ginger and transfer to a small bowl. Add the chopped scallions, safflower oil and vinegar, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Set aside.
• Remove skin from the cooled chicken and discard. Shred chicken meat and discard bones. Reserve 4 cups of the shredded chicken for the juk and save the remaining chicken for another use. Add the spinach and 2 cups of the reserved chicken to the juk and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide juk among bowls. Top each with some of the remaining 2 cups chicken and drizzle with the scallion sauce. Serve with soy sauce and chile oil or hot sauce on the side, if desired.