How to Make Delicious Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup for Summer Refreshment

Chicken and giang leaf soup is a rustic yet incredibly appealing dish that embodies the flavors of Vietnam. The refreshing sourness of giang leaves combined with tender, sweet chicken creates a perfect cooling soup for hot summer days. Let’s explore how to make this simple yet authentic chicken and giang leaf soup right at home!

Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup – a popular summer refreshment dish
Chicken and giang leaf soup – a popular summer refreshment dish

Ingredients Needed for Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup

• Chicken: 700g (preferably free-range chicken for a richer flavor)
• Giang leaves: 150g (choose fresh, dark green leaves, not wilted)
• Lemongrass: 3 stalks
• Bird’s eye chili: 4 pieces
• Long chili: ½ piece
• Minced ginger: 1 teaspoon
• Minced garlic: 1 tablespoon
• Minced shallots: 1 tablespoon
• Culantro and rice paddy herb: 5g each
• Seasonings: cooking oil, salt, fish sauce, seasoning powder, sugar

Steps to Make Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup

1. Preparing the Ingredients

Rinse the chicken with salt and lemon to remove any odor, then cut into bite-sized pieces and let them drain. Pick through the giang leaves, discarding any wilted ones, rinse them, let them drain, and gently crush them to enhance their natural sourness. Rinse the lemongrass and cut it into sections. Rinse the culantro and rice paddy herb, then chop them finely. Rinse the long chili and slice it diagonally. Rinse the bird’s eye chili and crush it.

Carefully preparing the ingredients for a delicious and safe dish
Carefully preparing the ingredients for a delicious and safe dish

2. Marinating the Chicken

Place the chicken in a large bowl and marinate with ½ tablespoon minced shallots, ½ tablespoon minced garlic, 2 tablespoons sugar, ½ tablespoon seasoning powder, and ½ tablespoon salt. Mix well and let it marinate for about 15 minutes.

3. Sautéing the Chicken

Heat a pot over the stove and add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, sauté the remaining minced garlic until fragrant, then remove it. Continue to sauté the minced shallots and minced ginger until fragrant, then add the chicken and sauté until it’s browned, about 5 minutes.

Sauté the chicken until browned to enhance its flavor

4. Cooking the Soup

Once the chicken is browned, pour in 1.2 liters of boiling water, bring it to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and cook for another 15 minutes. Add the giang leaves, then season with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, reduce to low heat, and stir well. Finally, add the bird’s eye chili, long chili, culantro, and rice paddy herb, then turn off the heat.

5. Serving and Enjoying

Ladle the chicken and giang leaf soup into bowls and sprinkle some fried garlic on top to enhance the flavor. This dish can be enjoyed with white rice or noodles, and can even be transformed into a delicious hot pot.

Chicken and giang leaf soup served with white rice or noodles, equally delicious
Chicken and giang leaf soup served with white rice or noodles, equally delicious

Some Tips for Making Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup

• Use boiling water to cook the soup to save time and keep the broth clear.
• Skim off any foam during cooking to keep the soup clear.
• Gently crush the giang leaves before cooking to enhance their natural sourness and avoid bitterness.
• Adjust the amount of chili according to your taste if you can’t handle spicy food.
• Choose fresh, free-range chicken to make the dish more flavorful and appealing.

What to Eat with Chicken and Giang Leaf Soup?

Chicken and giang leaf soup is usually served with white rice or noodles. Additionally, you can transform it into a hot pot and enjoy it with various vegetables like mushrooms, water spinach, banana blossoms, and water mimosa…

We hope this article helps you easily make delicious and authentic chicken and giang leaf soup at home. Give it a try and share your experience with us! Don’t forget to follow “Sổ Tay Món Ăn” for more exciting recipes.