Not Your Everyday Cup of Noodles

Chicken Pho is all about the flavor of the broth, first poaching the chicken, then adding the spices and vegetables in stages to develop the flavor.  A tutorial, complete with pictures, is in the March issue of Food and Wine Magazine.  This flavorful dish takes 4 hours from start to finish to complete.  The chicken was purchased locally from Working H Farm Store.

Chicken Pho

(Serves 6)

In a large stockpot, bring water to a boil.  Add chicken, breast side down.  Bring to a boil again, lower heat and simmer 30 minutes.
2 quarts water
1 small chicken
Remove chicken.  Cool slightly, then pull meat from bones.
Return chicken bones (discard the skin) to the broth and continue simmering. 
Cut chicken meat into 1/2 inch pieces and refrigerate in a shallow layer. 

In a non-stick pan, toast spices and goji berries over medium heat until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
2 whole star anise
2 teaspoons cardamom seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 teaspoon mixed peppercorns
1 teaspoon goji berries
Transfer spices to a bowl.

In same non-stick pan, brown onion and garlic until slightly brown, about 10 minutes.
1 large onion, 1/2 diced, 1/2 cut in large chunks
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Add browned onions and garlic to broth mixture with chicken bones.  Cover and simmer 1 hour.

Stir the toasted spices and goji berries into the broth.  Cover and simmer 30 minutes. 

Stir brown sugar into broth.  Simmer 30 minutes.
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Strain broth into a clean pan, discarding bones and seeds.

Add chicken meat and vegetables to broth.  Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.  Add soy sauce.
Cut chicken meat
1 ear of corn, cut off the cob
1 yellow squash, halved and sliced
1/3 cup celery, diced
1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce

Soak rice noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes.  Drain. 
4 ounce brown rice noodles

Portion noodles into serving bowls.  Add broth, chicken and vegetables.
Garnish with herbs and lime. 
4 parsley sprigs
4 basil leaves
1 lime, cut in half

Have a great week!