I call it lucky because I was flying completely solo between the ears, dropping in spices, chopping veggies, grabbing for meats, squeezing fruits, praying it would all somehow come together. And it did. I’m still more than a little shocked.
Broth
5 cups homemade chicken stock
5 cups water
3 celery ribs, cut in half and then slivered
1 small onion, cut in half and then slivered
2 tbs ginger + 2 sliced pieces the size of quarters
salt + pepper to taste
2 tbs fish sauce (you can always add more)
1 tbs apple vinegar (added a zing)
1 lime, juiced
bunch parsley
bunch scallions, cut in coins
Meats
1-2 chicken breast, whole
2 Chinese pork sausages, uncooked
2 tbs hot garlic sauce
1 egg per person
Noodles
In a large pot, heat water, broth, fish sauce, and celery on medium high heat.
In a small pan, heat 1 tbs oil and 1 tsp hot chili sauce. When sauce is sizzling, add onions and saute until lightly translucent. Transfer onions to the broth and return pan to heat.
Add about a 1/4 cup of broth to deglaze the pan, then add a bit more chili sauce and the sausages.
Simmer sausages for 5 minutes, add more stock, and flip sausages and cook another 5 minutes.
Flip sausages a final time, adding a bit less stock so the sausages can brown, about 3 minutes.
Remove sausages from the pan and set aside. Add a bit more stock to deglaze the pan, and pour drippings into the broth.
Chop sausages in coins and add half to the broth. Leave the remaining sausage to cool, we’ll add that in later.
Add the ginger, lime juice, vinegar, cilantro, and scallions to the broth and simmer.
20 minutes before you’re ready to eat, add raw chicken breast to the broth, cover the pan, and walk away.
Meanwhile, in a separate pot, boil noodles.
When you come back, chicken should be ready to shred with a fork.
Remove the chicken and shred on a plate before returning back to the soup.
In a separate pan, fry eggs.
When you’re ready to eat, add remaining sausages to the broth. Add noodles to your individual bowls, and ladle soup over top. Add egg, fresh cilantro, lime, and scallions to each bowl. Serve with a variety of crazy spices and hot sauces so people can add heat if needed.
