Garlic and Chicken Noodle Soup

Pho (pronounced fuh) is a traditional Vietnamese dish that is now a very popular dish around the world. To make pho with high standards and delicious ingredients is very time consuming. Therefore, there is another soup can stand in second place to replace pho noodle soup, which is a garlic and chicken soup. It is very quick to prepare but not of lesser quality for people who love the traditional pho and will feel satisfied with this soup. However, the soup will not be lacking by using a good homemade chicken broth and not to use commercial broth sold on the market. Although there are many spices accompanying this soup, these spices are also very easy to acquire, as these are the spices commonly used in the Asian cuisine. This chicken soup is not only easy to cook, but it is good for health. Always have this soup with your family's meals.

Ingredients:

12 cups chicken broth

Few slices of fresh galanga

Few slices of fresh ginger

2 chicken breasts

1 tbs fish sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Garlic oil

1 large bulk of garlic, roughly chopped

1/4 cup oil

Vegetables:

Napa cabbage, bean sprouts

Fresh noodles (2 ½ oz. each serving)

Garnish with chopped green onions and cilantro

Directions:

Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise.

Add chicken broth into a pot with galanga, ginger (daikon, carrot, or cabbage can be added to this broth for more flavor). Add chicken breasts and slowly bring to boil. Simmer and skim off any foam and residue that rise to the top. Cook for 20 minutes and remove the chicken.

Strain the stock and then adjust the seasonings with salt and fish sauce to the broth.

Pull chicken into small bite size pieces and set aside.

To make the garlic oil:

Add garlic with oil in a sauté pan. Slowly fry over low heat until the garlic starts browning.

 The oil plus the fried garlic can be stored in a glass jar with lid to use for other recipes.

Bring a pot of water to boil. 

Add fresh noodles, Napa cabbage, and bean sprouts in a strainer (this kitchen gadget is of special use to cook fresh noodles – it sells in Asian markets) blend for a few seconds (tap a few times to get rid of the water).

Place noodles in a serving bowl.

 Top with chicken, green onions, and cilantro. Pour the hot broth on top, and add 1 tbs garlic oil. Enjoy!!