Good Kitchen Blog: Healing Chicken and Rice Soup

Monday, October 21, 2019

Healing Chicken and Rice Soup

Things I want you to know about healing chicken and rice soup: it is limey, salty, and so fresh. It’s super satisfying thanks to juicy and garlic-ginger-infused chicken thighs and tender jasmine rice, and it can be (read: should be) loaded with fresh herbs and peanuts and more lime juice.

Knock on wood, but when you have a head cold, this will feel like an extremely delicious medical miracle. (*not a doctor, prone to exaggeration.*) I am convinced that it’s healing and happy for the body, and the soul, and people who like a lot of flavor in their life.

It starts with the standard comforts of chicken and rice, but also includes:

Ginger. So much ginger.
Garlic and shallots. Just the right amount of potency.
A turmeric dusting.
Salty broth.
A handful of spinach.
Excessive amounts of lime juice.
A lil pile of fresh mint and cilantro.
Peanuts for crunch.

It’s savory but also bright. Warm and cozy, but refreshing. Super extra healthy, but comfort food. Plus, it’s golden and beautiful-looking.

Chicken and rice soup in a bowl with spoon.

Thanks to all its nutrition and big flavor and healing whole food ingredients, it is a cold-weather (and head-cold) essential. Garlic, ginger, and lime juice? These three can make it all right again. ♡

Healing Chicken and Rice Soup

Author: Lindsay
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings

Print Recipe

Description

Healing Chicken and Rice Soup that is limey, salty, and so fresh! Garlic-ginger-infused brother, shredded chicken thighs, tender jasmine rice, fresh herbs, and peanuts. YUM.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon turmeric
3–4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup jasmine rice
6–8 cups chicken broth
juice of 4 limes (about 1/4 cup, plus more to taste)
a splash of soy sauce or fish sauce (optional)
fresh herbs for topping (mint, basil, cilantro)
peanuts or cashews for topping

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and shallots. Sauté for 3-5 minutes.
Add the chicken thighs. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and turmeric. Cook, undisturbed, for a few minutes. (Add 1/4 cup water to the pan to create a little steam bath if it’s getting too browned on the bottom.) Flip and repeat until cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
Add spinach and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Remove spinach and set aside.
Add rice to the pan. Sauté for 1-2 minutes so it picks up all the good pan flavors. Add 6 cups broth and bring to a simmer.
While the rice is cooking, shred the chicken.
When the rice is soft, add chicken and spinach back to the pan. Season with lime juice, soy sauce / fish sauce, and fresh herbs. Add extra broth as needed. YUM.

Notes

I like to hold onto the herbs until just before serving, so I kept them separate and arranged a little herb salad atop each bowl of soup. This soup will absorb liquid as it rests (thanks, rice). So your leftovers may need some more water or chicken broth added to soup it all up again.