2 Delicious and Nutritious Chicken and Mushroom Congee Recipes for Home Cooks
Chicken congee is a beloved and familiar dish in Vietnamese homes. Today, Dien May XANH will introduce two delightful chicken and mushroom congee recipes for your daily meals. Enjoy the tender, sweet chicken and the warm, comforting taste of the congee. Show off your culinary skills and treat your family to these two delicious recipes!
1. Straw Mushroom Chicken Congee
- Prep Time:30 minutes
- Cook Time:45 minutes
- Difficulty:Easy
Ingredients for Straw Mushroom Chicken Congee Serves 5
White Rice 200 g(1/2 can of evaporated milk) Chicken 1.2 kg(1/2 large chicken) Straw Mushrooms 400 g Cabbage 1 head Scallions 3 stalks Garlic 5 cloves Lemons 4 Cooking Oil 3 tbsp Fish Sauce 1/2 tbsp Common Seasonings To taste(salt/ sugar/ chicken bouillon/ MSG/ pepper)
Equipment
How to Choose Fresh Ingredients
Selecting Fresh Straw Mushrooms
- Choose unopened, firm mushrooms that are uniformly sized and cylindrical or slightly rounded, not too large or too small.
- Dark gray or black straw mushrooms are generally considered tastier than white ones.
- Avoid mushrooms that feel hard to the touch, as they may be tough and less flavorful.
Selecting Fresh Cabbage
- A good cabbage feels heavy for its size, is firm to the touch, and is not excessively large or small.
- Look for deep green, uniformly shaped heads, avoiding those that are flat or oval.
- Avoid cabbages with bruised or damaged outer leaves or pale, whitish leaves, as these may be old, tough, and stringy.
How to Make Straw Mushroom Chicken Congee
-
1. Preparing the Ingredients
Clean the chicken thoroughly by scrubbing with salt for about 3 minutes to remove impurities and odor. Rinse and pat dry.
Halve the straw mushrooms, soak them in diluted salt water for 3 minutes, then rinse 2-3 times with clean water and pat dry.
Mince the garlic. Wash and finely chop the scallions.
Remove the core from the cabbage and slice thinly. Place in a bowl of water with 3 tablespoons of salt, mix well, soak for 3 minutes, and rinse thoroughly.
-
2. Preparing the Cabbage
Juice 4 lemons into a bowl, removing the seeds. Add 4 tablespoons of sugar and stir until dissolved.
Add the cabbage to a large bowl, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over it, and toss until the cabbage wilts and is evenly coated.
-
3. Boiling the Chicken
Bring 1.2 liters of water to a boil in a pot. Add 3 tablespoons of chicken bouillon and 1 tablespoon of MSG. Add the chicken and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the chicken.
Let the chicken cool slightly before shredding into bite-sized pieces.
Note:
- For even cooking, remember to turn the chicken over while boiling!
- To check if the chicken is cooked, insert a chopstick. If it easily pierces the chicken, it’s done!
-
4. Sautéing the Mushrooms
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the straw mushrooms and stir-fry. Add 1 teaspoon of MSG, 1/2 tablespoon of chicken bouillon, 1/3 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce.
Stir-fry over high heat for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender-crisp. Remove from heat.
Tip: Adjust seasonings to your family’s preference for best results!
-
5. Toasting the Rice and Cooking the Congee
Rinse the rice under cold water 2-3 times. Toast in a pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until lightly golden.
Add the toasted rice to the chicken broth. Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes until the rice is soft. Add the sautéed mushrooms and simmer for another 3 minutes.
Stir in the chopped scallions, adjust seasoning to taste, and remove from heat.
Note: Stir frequently to prevent burning!
-
6. Finishing Touches
Serve the congee in bowls, sprinkled with pepper. Arrange the shredded chicken in the center of a plate and surround it with the cabbage salad.
-
7. Final Product
The finished Straw Mushroom Chicken Congee is fragrant and delicious, with tender chicken and a crunchy, tangy cabbage salad. A perfect family meal!
2. Shiitake Mushroom Chicken Congee
- Prep Time:15 minutes
- Cook Time:40 minutes
- Difficulty:Easy
Ingredients for Shiitake Mushroom Chicken Congee Serves 4
Chicken Breast 800 g Carrots 1 Dried Shiitake Mushrooms 100 g Shallot 2 Ginger 1 small piece(small piece) Scallions 2 stalks Ginger 1 piece(sliced) Coarse Salt 1 tbsp Salt/ Chicken Bouillon To taste
Equipment
How to Choose the Best Ingredients
Selecting Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
- Choose mushrooms that are unbroken, with light brown caps (minimal color variation after drying).
- Good dried shiitake mushrooms have a fragrant aroma, free from dampness or strange smells. Avoid those with white mold.
- Purchase mushrooms in well-sealed packaging with clearly labeled origin and expiration date.
Selecting Fresh Carrots
- Fresh carrots are medium-sized, long and tapered towards the tail end, smooth-skinned, firm to the touch, and slightly hard.
- Good carrots are deep orange and bright, with fresh green tops firmly attached.
- Avoid carrots with bruised tops, damaged bodies, mushy texture, or dark spots.
How to Make Shiitake Mushroom Chicken Congee
-
1. Preparing the Ingredients
Rub the chicken breast with coarse salt and sliced ginger for about 5 minutes to remove odor. Rinse with clean water.
Peel and roughly crush the shallots. Peel and roughly crush the ginger.
Peel, wash, and dice the carrots. Wash and finely chop the scallions.
Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in cold water for 1-2 hours until soft. Rinse with cold water, pat dry, and dice into bite-sized pieces.
Quick and Easy Shiitake Mushroom Prep
- Method 1: Soak mushrooms in 60-80°C (140-176°F) water for 7-10 minutes until soft, then rinse with clean water.
- Method 2: Rinse mushrooms briefly, blanch in boiling water for 3-5 minutes, then rinse with cold water and pat dry.
-
2. Boiling the Chicken
Bring 1.8 liters of water to a boil in a pot. Add the chicken breast, 1/3 teaspoon of salt, crushed shallots, and crushed ginger. Simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken.
Let the chicken breast cool before shredding. Reserve the chicken bones for the congee.
-
3. Cooking the Congee
Add the chicken bones, 1/2 tablespoon of chicken bouillon, diced carrots, diced shiitake mushrooms, and rinsed rice to the pot.
Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes until the congee is soft and cooked through. Stir in the chopped scallions, adjust seasoning, and remove from heat.
Tip: Soaking the rice in water for 40 minutes before cooking will result in softer, tastier congee!
-
4. Final Product
The Shiitake Mushroom Chicken Congee is aromatic and delicious, with soft, flavorful congee, tender chicken, and fragrant shiitake mushrooms. It pairs well with a side of tangy salad!
How to Choose Fresh Chicken
For Live Chicken
- Choose healthy chickens with smooth feathers, that move actively, and have clear eyes and noses, free from discharge.
- Avoid lethargic chickens with drooping tails, slow movement, ruffled feathers, or damp, wet feathers, as these may be sick.
For Pre-Processed Chicken
- Look for chickens with characteristic golden-yellow skin that is thin, smooth to the touch, not bumpy, and elastic.
- The meat should be naturally pinkish-red, not too pale or too dark, and free from bruises or blood clots. Pale or grayish meat indicates the chicken may have been dead before processing.
- Check the expiration date and packaging date, and buy chicken with the most recent production date. Ensure that the packaging is intact.
-
For peace of mind, buy chicken from reputable sources such as supermarkets, Bach Hoa Xanh, or trusted vendors in the market.
How to Clean Chicken Properly to Eliminate Odor
- Method 1: Marinate the chicken with salt, pepper, crushed ginger, and a little white wine for about 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
- Method 2: Briefly blanch the chicken with a few pieces of crushed ginger.
- Method 3: Rub lemon slices and salt on the chicken, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
And there you have it – two delicious and easy-to-make recipes! Dien May XANH wishes you good health and many opportunities to create delightful meals for your family to enjoy!
