Description
Korean-inspired napa cabbage delight soup carries rich umami flavors from traditional ingredients. Warm broth with tender cabbage and delicate seasonings invites comfort for hungry diners seeking authentic Korean culinary experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 200 g (7 oz) chicken (preferably breast or thigh)
- 1 napa cabbage
- 1 carrot
- 1 onion
- 1 green onion
- 1 inch piece of ginger
- 2–3 cloves of garlic
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Initiate Cooking: Heat a large pot over medium flame and cook chicken until it starts to turn golden, releasing its initial flavors.
- Aromatic Foundation: Incorporate finely diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger, sautéing together for 3-5 minutes to develop a rich, fragrant base that enhances the chicken’s profile.
- Liquid Introduction: Add thinly sliced carrots and pour water to completely submerge all ingredients, creating a delicate broth foundation that will carry the soup’s essence.
- Flavor Infusion: Bring liquid to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop a complex flavor profile.
- Strain and Prepare: Carefully separate broth from solids, reserving the flavorful liquid and cooked chicken while discarding aromatics that have released their flavors.
- Cabbage Integration: Return strained broth and chicken to pot, adding chopped napa cabbage and simmering 4-6 minutes until vegetables reach perfect tenderness with a hint of crispness.
- Final Touches: Enhance the soup with fresh lemon juice, creating a bright, vibrant flavor that cuts through the richness of the broth.
- Presentation: Ladle into serving bowls, garnishing with delicate green onion slivers and fresh cilantro, transforming the soup into a visually appealing and aromatic dish ready to be savored immediately.
Notes
- Slice Evenly: Uniform cuts ensure consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- Broth Building: Straining the initial cooking liquid concentrates flavors and removes unwanted texture, creating a cleaner, more refined soup base.
- Cabbage Care: Adding napa cabbage towards the end of cooking preserves its delicate texture, maintaining a crisp-tender bite that adds freshness to the soup.
- Brightness Boost: Fresh lemon juice and herbs at the end elevate the entire dish, cutting through richness and adding a vibrant, zesty finish that makes the soup sing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg