Chicken Essence Soup (No Water Added)

Ingredients

• 3 lb whole chicken (About 3 lb; rinsed and patted dry)
• 6 napa cabbage (Pieces, roughly chopped)
• 1 carrot (Sliced or cut into large chunks)
• 1 onion (Sliced or quartered; optional)
• 4 garlic (Cloves, lightly smashed)
• 8 slice fresh ginger (Use 8–10 slices total; some are layered under the chicken and some placed on top)
• 2 tbsp dried goji berries
• 1 cup water or chicken stock (Optional; the source specifies 1–2 cups, added only if you prefer more liquid or a less concentrated soup)
• 0.5 tsp salt (Add more to taste)
• 0.5 tsp white pepper (Add more to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Rinse the whole chicken thoroughly and pat it dry. Prep the vegetables by roughly chopping the napa cabbage, slicing or chunking the carrot, slicing or quartering the onion, lightly smashing the garlic, and slicing the fresh ginger.

2. 2

   In a large cooking pot or Dutch oven, layer the napa cabbage, carrot, onion, garlic, and ginger on the bottom.

3. 3

   Place the whole chicken on top of the vegetables, then add the remaining ginger slices and the dried goji berries over and around the chicken.

4. 4

   Do not add water for the concentrated version. If you prefer more liquid and a less concentrated soup, add 1–2 cups of water or chicken stock.

5. 5

   Cover the pot tightly with a lid and place it over low to medium-low heat. Cook gently for 1½ to 2 hours, undisturbed, until the chicken has released its natural juices and the broth looks rich and concentrated.

6. 6

   Turn off the heat and let the covered soup stand for another 10 minutes.

7. 7

   Taste the broth and add the salt and white pepper, with additional amounts if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

The recipe yields approximately 2–4 cups of concentrated chicken essence, depending on the chicken, vegetables, and pot. Do not stir while cooking; leaving the soup undisturbed helps keep the broth clear and golden. For an ultra-concentrated version, cook the chicken with ginger and goji berries without the vegetables; the source notes this yields approximately 1 cup of essence. The body text also mentions optional apples or Asian pear for gentle sweetness, but they are not part of the structured recipe ingredient list.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• soup
• East Asian
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
• slow-cooked
• one-pot
• comfort food