This is one of my all time favorite Vietnamese dishes. It's challenging to find at a restaurant and it's so worth learning to make it home! It's exceptionally easy, and it goes incredibly well with fresh cabbage as an accoutrement added to the soup at the end, which is one of my favorite vegetables. This is another Vietnamese dish I use a spice mix in, available at Asian grocery stores.
Ingredients
- 2lb chicken thighs cut into strips
- Optional 1/2-1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2-3/4 of a packet of gia vi nah brand mi quang spice mix
- 5 minced garlic cloves
- 2 shallots, one minced, one thinly sliced, separated
- 1 Tablespoon Vietnamese chicken bullion powder
- 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 lumps yellow rock candy (or 1 Tablespoon regular or brown sugar)
- 2 32oz cartons chicken broth (I prefer Pacific brand broth and think it makes a big difference)
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- Topping options include bean sprouts, thai basil, mint, green onion, cilantro, lime slices and shredded cabbage,
- Wide flat rice noodles
- 1 Tablespoon turmeric to give the noodles yellow color
Instructions
Cup the chicken into strips and place it in a bowl with 1/4-1/2 the packet of Mi Quang spice mix, 1 mined shallot, 5 minced garlic cloves, 1 Tablespoon chicken bullion powder, 1 Tablespoon fish sauce. (If also cooking shrimp, marinate in a separate bowl with another 1/4 bag of the spice mix, and sparingly fish sauce). Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but it's better if it sits all day.
Slice the second shallot and fry in a warm pan with a generous amount of avocado oil until golden. (If cooking shrimp, add it now and fry until it's cooked. Remove from pan). Add the chicken strips and fry until they're mostly cooked, then add the two cartons of chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
Taste the broth and adjust seasoning with additional fish sauce, chicken bullion powder, MSG, sugar, and sparingly additional Mi Quang spice mix to taste (the Mi Quang spice mix is spicy, so beware. I find a total inclusion of 1/2-3/4 of the contents of one packet to yield flavorful and spicy results, without being too much heat).
While the soup is simmering cook the noodles according to package directions, but include 1 Tablespoon turmeric to give the noodles the signature yellow color.
Serve with desired toppings, which can include bean sprits, thai basil, mint, green onion, lime spiced, cilantro, or shredded green cabbage.
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