Description

Lao Chicken Noodle Soup is a comforting and flavorful traditional dish featuring tender shredded chicken, fragrant broth infused with garlic and ginger, and delicate rice noodles. Enhanced with bright lime juice and fish sauce, this soup is garnished with fresh cilantro, green onions, and optional chili for a perfect balance of savory, tangy, and spicy flavors. Ideal for a wholesome family meal, it can be prepared in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 whole chicken (about 1.5 kg), cut into pieces
8 cups water
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black peppercorns
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 piece ginger (about 2 cm), sliced
200 g rice noodles (soaked in warm water)
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 red chili, sliced (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the broth: In a large pot, combine the chicken pieces, water, salt, black peppercorns, crushed garlic, and sliced ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes to develop a rich and flavorful broth.
Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken from the broth and allow it to cool slightly. Shred the meat off the bones into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, strain the broth through a fine sieve or strainer back into the pot to remove solids.
Season the broth: Add fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar to the strained broth. Stir well and adjust the seasoning by tasting and adding more fish sauce or lime juice as desired for a balanced savory and tangy flavor.
Cook the noodles: Prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions—typically soaking in warm water until tender. Drain the noodles well and evenly divide them into serving bowls.
Assemble the soup: Top the rice noodles in each bowl with shredded chicken. Then ladle the hot seasoned broth over the noodles and chicken to warm and combine the flavors.
Garnish and serve: Finish the soup by garnishing with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, lime wedges, and optional red chili slices for added color and a bit of heat. Serve the soup hot for a comforting meal.

Notes

For deeper flavor, simmer the chicken longer, up to 40 minutes.
Adjust the amount of fish sauce and lime juice according to your taste preference.
Rice noodles should be soaked just until tender to avoid mushiness.
Use fresh herbs and lime wedges for the best flavor and presentation.
optional chili can be omitted or substituted with chili flakes for mild heat.