Vietnamese Style Chicken Dumpling Soup Recipes

VIETNAMESE-STYLE CHICKEN CURRY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Cook chicken and onions in oil until onions are soft and translucent; remove onions and chicken from pot and set aside.
• Saute shallots in pot for about 1 minute, then stir in garlic, ginger, lemon grass and curry powder. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes, then stir in bell pepper and carrots. Return chicken and onion to pot and stir in chicken broth, water and fish sauce. Season with lime leaves, bay leaf and red pepper flakes.
• Bring to a boil and introduce potatoes. Return to a boil and pour in coconut milk. Reduce heat and simmer 40 to 60 minutes, until potatoes and chicken are tender. Garnish each dish with a sprig of fresh cilantro.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

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.

CHICKEN DUMPLING AND CHRYSANTHEMUM LEAF SOUP

Steps:

• Using your fingers, strip off the leaves and snap off the tender tops of each chrysanthemum stem. Discard the stems along with any discolored leaves and small buds. There should be about 3 cups packed leaves. Rinse the leaves well to remove any grit and drain in a colander. Cut the leaves into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
• In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes, or until fragrant and soft. Add the water and salt, raise the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer. Use 2 teaspoons or demitasse spoons to shape the dumplings. Scoop up a smallish mound of the paste with 1 spoon. (The dumplings nearly double in size, so you don't want to start with a huge spoonful of paste.) Pass the mound back and forth from 1 spoon to the other, forming it into a relatively smooth round or football shape. When you're satisfied, use the second spoon to push the dumpling gently off the spoon into the simmering broth.
• After the dumplings float to the surface of the broth, let them simmer, uncovered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cooked through. Taste and season with up to 1 tablespoon fish sauce; how much you use depends on the saltiness of the meat paste. If you are not serving the soup right away, turn off the heat and cover.
• Just before serving, return the soup to a simmer and add the chrysanthemum leaves. When they wilt and turn deep green, after about 1 minute, turn off the heat. Taste and add extra salt or fish sauce, if necessary. Ladle into a serving bowl and sprinkle with lots of black pepper. Serve immediately.

VIETNAMESE GINGER CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Blacken ginger and onions by threading on a metal skewer and holding over a gas burner flame and turning until scorched on all sides (1-2 minutes).
• Leave one piece ginger whole, chop the other when cool.
• Combine broth, chicken, fish sauce, peppercorns, blackened onions, and the whole ginger piece in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Remove chicken and shred into bite-sized pieces.
• Continue simmering broth for about 20 minutes.
• In the mean time, soak vermicelli in a large bowl of warm water until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Drain and set aside.
• Strain broth, discard solids, and return to a boil.
• Add chopped ginger and scallions, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• To serve: divide vermicelli into 4 bowls, tops with bean sprouts and shredded chicken, then ladle over broth.
• Serve with cilantro, mint, and lime on the side.

VIETNAMESE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

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.