Crispy Chicken Congee Recipes

CHICKEN CONGEE

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the rice.
• Put the rice in a pot with the chicken stock and bring to boil. Give the rice a good stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking, then lower the heat and half-cover the pan. Simmer gently for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes, until the grains have burst open and you have a thick congee. Keep an eye on the pot to make sure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom. Toward the end of cooking, when the stock has become integrated with the rice and is the consistency of oatmeal, season lightly with salt to taste.
• Serve the congee with a sprinkling of soy sauce, spring onion and ginger and a few drops of sesame oil to taste.

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 CONGEE WITH TURMERIC AND CUMIN

Steps:

• Prepare the rice: In a small skillet, sauté the garlic in oil over medium-high heat, until deep golden brown all over, about 3 minutes. Transfer the garlic to a large lidded pot, and discard the oil. Add the rice, onion, turmeric, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and 10 cups water to the pot and bring to a boil over high. Reduce the heat to medium-high, partially cover the pot with a lid (two-thirds of the pot should be covered) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice breaks down and the soup is thick and creamy, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove and discard onion and garlic, if desired. Season congee to taste with salt, remove from heat and cover. (Makes about 7 cups.)
• Meanwhile, prepare the yogurt sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise and za'atar. Season to taste with salt and pepper, transfer to a squeeze bottle or a spouted measuring cup, and refrigerate.
• Prepare the spicy sauce: Add the roasted bell pepper, hot sauce and Champagne vinegar to a blender and purée until completely smooth. Season with salt to taste, transfer to a squeeze bottle or a spouted measuring cup, and refrigerate.
• Prepare the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons olive oil with the turmeric, cumin, cardamom and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large cast-iron pan. Working in batches, cook the chicken thighs over medium until a golden crust forms on each side, 6 to 7 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board, let rest 5 to 10 minutes, then thinly slice the chicken crosswise.
• Divide the congee among wide, shallow bowls. Top with the chicken, lettuce and tomato, then drizzle with yogurt and spicy sauce. Pass additional sauces at the table so guests can adjust creaminess or heat level according to preference.

SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN CONGEE

Steps:

• Place chicken, stock, rice, chiles, ginger, garlic, and salt in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8 hours.
• Remove chiles and ginger. Stir, breaking up chicken into bite-size pieces. Divide congee among bowls. Serve with an assortment of toppings alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Congee can be made 3 days ahead; transfer to an airtight container and chill. Reheat in a large pot over medium, stirring in water as needed to loosen.

CHICKEN CONGEE (鸡粥)

Steps:

• Wash rice in a bowl:
• Start boiling water. Chop ginger into thin slices, and then into thin strips. Chop a few strands of cilantro and green onion into small pieces.
• Cut the chicken into thin slices and place it in a bowl to marinate.
• Pour the boiled water from earlier into a pot, set on high heat, and wait for the pot to boil before adding our rice. It's important not to add the rice before the pot starts boiling.
• Once the pot is boiling again, we'll partially cover the pot and let it cook at medium heat for 25 minutes.
• Once we've hit 25 minutes, we can either proceed with this step or cook it for longer.
• Set the stove to high heat, and slowly add the chicken over the course of 30 to 60 seconds, stirring constantly as you go. If you add it all at once, it will clump up.
• Almost there! Add the strips of ginger, as well as salt and chicken bouillon. Stir everything around for 20-30 seconds.
• Turn off the heat, and pour the jook into your favorite bowl. Garnish with the green onions and cilantro.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN AND LONG-GRAIN RICE CONGEE

Steps:

• Place chicken in a stock pot. Pour in enough water to cover chicken. Add ginger, lemon grass, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and gently simmer for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours.
• Strain broth, and return broth to stock pot. Let chicken cool, then remove bones and skin, and tear into bite-size pieces; set aside.
• Stir rice into broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If necessary, adjust with water or additional salt. The congee is done, but can be left to cook an additional 45 minutes for better consistency.
• Ladle congee into bowls, and top with chicken, cilantro, chives, and pepper. Squeeze lime juice to taste.