Sesame oil and old ginger chicken soup with wheat vermicelli
Old ginger slowly fried in sesame oil, simmered with chicken into a fragrant broth and poured over fine wheat vermicelli — warming to the core.
- 30 min
- Serves 2
- Simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: Yang-deficient people feel the cold in their hands and feet, and Grain Rain's endless drizzle lets damp cold smother yang. Old ginger warms the middle and sesame-oil chicken warms qi and blood, so a steaming bowl of noodle soup heats you up and wakes you up.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min- 1Warm the sesame oil over low heat and fry the ginger slowly for about 3 minutes until the edges curl and it smells fragrant.
- 2Turn the heat to medium, add the chicken and fry until it turns white, splash in the rice wine, add the water, bring to the boil and simmer for 12 minutes.
- 3Cook the vermicelli in a separate pan of boiling water for 1 minute and put it in bowls. Add the goji berries to the soup for 1 minute.
- 4Season the soup lightly (the vermicelli is already salty) and pour it with the chicken over the noodles.
Cautions
- If you get a dry mouth or spots easily, halve the ginger and sesame oil.
Chef's tips
- Keep the heat low for the sesame oil, which turns bitter if it burns.
The TCM view
Old ginger is pungent and warm, warming the middle, dispelling cold and transforming damp. Chicken is sweet and warm, boosting qi and replenishing essence. Sesame oil is sweet and neutral and moistening. Goji is sweet and neutral, nourishing the liver and kidneys. Warming without drying, to support yang in damp, chilly weather.
