Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup
A nourishing and aromatic Cantonese soup simmered slowly with chicken and traditional herbs, perfect for warming up and enhancing wellness. This chinese-inspired soups ready in about 135 minutes pairs cut into 8 pieces whole chicken, dried red dates, dried goji berries for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs, cut into 8 pieces whole chicken
- 8 pieces dried red dates
- 1/4 cup dried goji berries
- 2 pieces, about 2 inches each Chinese angelica root (dang gui)
- 4 pieces, soaked and sliced dried shiitake mushrooms
- 3 slices ginger
- 10 cups water
- 1 tsp, or to taste salt
- 2 stalks, chopped for garnish green onions
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 3 lbs of chicken pieces under cold water and pat dry. In a large soup pot, bring 10 cups water to a boil over high heat.
- Step 2: Add the chicken pieces, 8 dried red dates, 1/4 cup dried goji berries, 2 pieces of Chinese angelica root (about 2 inches each), 4 soaked and sliced dried shiitake mushrooms, and 3 slices ginger to the pot.
- Step 3: Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cover the pot partially. Let the soup simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the chicken is tender and the broth is fragrant and flavorful.
- Step 4: Skim off any foam or impurities from the surface periodically to keep the broth clear.
- Step 5: Season the soup with 1 tsp salt or to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with 2 chopped green onion stalks before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup take to make?
Total time is about 135 minutes (15 min prep + 120 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep dried red dates from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Simmered Cantonese Herbal Chicken Soup?
Chinese soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
