Black Chicken Herbal Soup

Ingredients

• 1 whole black chicken (about 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs) 1 whole black chicken (about 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs)
• 10 cups (2.4 liters) water 10 cups (2.4 liters) water
• 20g dried goji berries 20g dried goji berries
• 20g dried longan 20g dried longan
• 10g dried astragalus root 10g dried astragalus root
• 10 red dates 10 red dates
• 5g dried lotus seeds 5g dried lotus seeds
• 5g dried white fungus 5g dried white fungus
• 3 slices ginger 3 slices ginger
• 2 cloves garlic 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon rock sugar 1 tablespoon rock sugar
• Salt, to taste Salt, to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 8g, 2g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 15g, 8g
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 1g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Rinse the black chicken thoroughly and remove any excess fat. Cut it into smaller pieces for easier serving.
2. 2.
   In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the black chicken pieces and blanch for 5 minutes to remove impurities. Drain and set aside.
3. 3.
   In the same pot, add the blanched chicken, dried goji berries, dried longan, dried astragalus root, red dates, dried lotus seeds, dried white fungus, ginger slices, and garlic cloves.
4. 4.
   Pour in the fish sauce and add the rock sugar. Stir well to combine.
5. 5.
   Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the chicken is tender and the flavors have melded together.
6. 6.
   Season with salt to taste.
7. 7.
   Serve the Black Chicken Herbal Soup hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Dried lotus seeds — Soak the dried lotus seeds in water for at least 2 hours before using to soften them.
• Dried white fungus — Soak the dried white fungus in water for 30 minutes to rehydrate it before adding it to the soup.

Tips & Tricks

• For a stronger herbal flavor, you can add additional Chinese herbs such as dried ginseng or dried wolfberries.
• If you prefer a clearer broth, you can strain the soup before serving.
• Adjust the sweetness of the soup by adding more or less rock sugar according to your taste preference.
• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to develop over time.

Serving advice

Serve the Black Chicken Herbal Soup as a main course accompanied by steamed rice or noodles. It can also be enjoyed on its own as a nourishing and comforting soup.

Presentation advice

Garnish the soup with fresh herbs such as cilantro or green onions to add a pop of color and freshness to the dish. Serve it in individual bowls or a large soup tureen for an inviting presentation.