Chicken Pho for the soul
<p dir="ltr">This warm and hearty Vietnamese chicken noodle soup is perfect for the cooler weather. Wth 25g of protein and 5g of fibre, this is a healthy seasonal staple. </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ingredients</h2>
<p dir="ltr">170g fresh shiitake mushrooms</p>
<p dir="ltr">7cm piece ginger, peeled and sliced</p>
<p dir="ltr">1 Tbsp coriander seeds</p>
<p dir="ltr">4 whole cloves</p>
<p dir="ltr">1kg bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed</p>
<p dir="ltr">1.5L (6 cups) water</p>
<p dir="ltr">500ml (2 cups) salt-reduced or gluten-free salt reduced chicken stock</p>
<p dir="ltr">1 large brown onion, sliced</p>
<p dir="ltr">30g dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed, drained and broken</p>
<p dir="ltr">1 Tbsp brown sugar</p>
<p dir="ltr">5 cloves garlic, sliced</p>
<p dir="ltr">125g dried rice noodles, soaked (see Cook's Tip)</p>
<p dir="ltr">2 bunches Asian greens, trimmed, chopped, steamed</p>
<p dir="ltr">Coarsely grated carrot, slivered red onion, sliced chillies, coriander leaves, Thai basil, and/or lime wedges, to serve (optional)</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Method</h2>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Remove and reserve stems from the shitake mushrooms. Thinly slice the caps. Transfer the sliced mushrooms to a bowl, cover and put in the fridge until required. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place the shiitake stems, ginger, coriander seeds and cloves on a double thick 20cm piece of muslin. Bring up corners and tie closed with string.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place the spice bag, chicken, water, stock, onion, porcini mushrooms, sugar and garlic in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Remove and discard the spice bag. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Remove the chicken from the cooker. Remove the meat from the bones. Discard the bones. Coarsley shred the chicken. Cover and set aside. Stir the reserved shiitake mushrooms and noodles into the broth. Cover and cook for a further 10 minutes.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Divide the greens between serving bowls. Ladle the noodle mixture over the greens. Add the shredded chicken. Top with carrot, onion, chilli, coriander, basil and lime wedges, if using. </p>
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<p dir="ltr"><strong>Chef’s tip</strong><br />To soak rice noodles, place in a large heatproof glass bowl. Cover noodles with boiling water. Set aside for 5-7 minutes or until noodles are tender but still firm, stirring occasionally.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Pho Flavours</strong><br />Pho (pronounced fuh) is a traditional Vietnamese noodle dish. It is easily adaptable to your family's favourite foods. Use pork, beef or tofu instead of chicken. No rice noodles? Try cooked wholemeal spaghetti.<br />And the topper ideas are endless! Give fresh green shallots, basil, shredded cabbage and a drizzle of sriracha sauce a try. </p>
<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
