Arroz Caldo (Filipino Chicken and Rice Soup)

• servings: 4 servings
• total time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons canola oil, divided

1/4 cup freshly minced garlic (about 12 medium cloves), divided

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces (see note)

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon freshly minced ginger

1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1 cup uncooked jasmine rice

6 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium broth

1 tablespoon calamansi, key lime, or lime juice (see note)

Kosher salt

4 scallions, thinly sliced

2 hard-boiled eggs , cut into 1/4-inch slices (optional)

2 fresh limes or calamansi, quartered

Directions

Place 1/2 cup oil and 2/3 of garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic turns light golden brown. Transfer garlic to fine-mesh strainer and drain. Spread garlic out on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring and scraping, until onion softens and releases its liquid, about 3 minutes. Stir in ginger and remaining garlic and cook until onion begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in fish sauce and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add rice and stir until well coated.

Stir in chicken stock, running spoon along bottom of Dutch oven to release any browned bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until rice is completely tender and stock has thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in lime or calamansi juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Ladle arroz caldo into bowls. Top with scallions, fried garlic, and egg slices, if using. Serve immediately with additional lime or calamansi wedges on the side.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: Serves 4
• Calories: 497 kcal
• Total Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 208 mg
• Sodium: 1728 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 25 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3 g
• Total Sugars: 3 g
• Protein: 49 g