Chicken Essence
Chicken Essence
Ingredients
- 14 Napa cabbage leaves, about
- 3 carrots, medium, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, 7 cloves
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 5 stalks green onions, divided, 4 stalks for cooking, 1 stalk chopped for garnish
- 1 ounce ginger, sliced
- 1/4 cup goji berries
- 1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds
- 3 Thai chili peppers, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Thinly slice the onion and place it evenly at the bottom of a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Arrange about half of the Napa cabbage leaves over the sliced onions, forming a protective layer.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Add the chopped carrots on top of the cabbage layer.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Add 4 stalks of green onions (reserving 1 stalk for garnish) and the 6-7 whole garlic cloves to the pot.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Carefully place the whole chicken on top of the vegetables in the pot.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Arrange the ginger slices on and around the chicken.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Pack the remaining Napa cabbage leaves around the chicken to fill any remaining space in the pot, ensuring the chicken is nestled amongst the vegetables.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Sprinkle the goji berries evenly over the contents of the pot.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
If desired, add the 3 whole Thai chili peppers to the pot for a touch of heat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper over the entire pot.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Cover the pot tightly with a layer of aluminum foil, then place the lid securely on top. This creates a tight seal to trap all the moisture.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Place the pot over low heat and simmer for 3 hours. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the vegetables will release their moisture to create the broth.
⏱️ 180 min
- 13
After simmering, carefully remove the lid and foil. The vegetables will have significantly reduced, and a rich, flavorful broth will have formed without adding any water.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
The chicken should be incredibly tender and fall right off the bone. You can gently shred the chicken with two forks if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Ladle the chicken essence, including pieces of chicken and tender vegetables, into individual serving bowls.
⏱️ 1 min
- 16
Chop the reserved 1 stalk of green onion and use it to garnish each serving.
⏱️ 1 min
- 17
Serve hot and enjoy this nourishing and flavorful Chicken Essence.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chicken Essence
- 14 Napa cabbage leaves, about
- 3 carrots, medium, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, 7 cloves
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 5 stalks green onions, divided, 4 stalks for cooking, 1 stalk chopped for garnish
- 1 ounce ginger, sliced
- 1/4 cup goji berries
- 1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds
- 3 Thai chili peppers, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Thinly slice the onion and place it evenly at the bottom of a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Arrange about half of the Napa cabbage leaves over the sliced onions, forming a protective layer.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Add the chopped carrots on top of the cabbage layer.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Add 4 stalks of green onions (reserving 1 stalk for garnish) and the 6-7 whole garlic cloves to the pot.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Carefully place the whole chicken on top of the vegetables in the pot.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Arrange the ginger slices on and around the chicken.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Pack the remaining Napa cabbage leaves around the chicken to fill any remaining space in the pot, ensuring the chicken is nestled amongst the vegetables.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Sprinkle the goji berries evenly over the contents of the pot.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
If desired, add the 3 whole Thai chili peppers to the pot for a touch of heat.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper over the entire pot.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Cover the pot tightly with a layer of aluminum foil, then place the lid securely on top. This creates a tight seal to trap all the moisture.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Place the pot over low heat and simmer for 3 hours. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the vegetables will release their moisture to create the broth.
⏱️ 180 min - 13
After simmering, carefully remove the lid and foil. The vegetables will have significantly reduced, and a rich, flavorful broth will have formed without adding any water.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
The chicken should be incredibly tender and fall right off the bone. You can gently shred the chicken with two forks if desired.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Ladle the chicken essence, including pieces of chicken and tender vegetables, into individual serving bowls.
⏱️ 1 min - 16
Chop the reserved 1 stalk of green onion and use it to garnish each serving.
⏱️ 1 min - 17
Serve hot and enjoy this nourishing and flavorful Chicken Essence.