Rice Noodle Soup With Ham And Lettuce Food

RICE NOODLE SOUP WITH HAM AND LETTUCE

Steps:

• Cover chicken with 12 cups water in a 6- to 8-quart pot.
• Cut off one third of ham (trim if necessary) and cut into 1/3-inch dice, then chill. Add remaining two thirds ham to pot.
• Trim scallions, then cut 1 scallion into thin slices and reserve. Cut remaining scallions crosswise into thirds and add to pot along with ginger, garlic, and cilantro stems.
• Cook chicken, uncovered, at a bare simmer 3 hours (do not let boil), skimming foam as necessary. (Do not stir, or stock will be cloudy.)
• Transfer chicken with tongs to a cutting board, reserving stock. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove breast meat and shred into 3-inch-long strips, discarding skin. Chill strips and reserve remaining chicken for another use. Pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, discarding solids and skimming off fat (see cooks' note, below).
• Bring 6 cups stock with salt to a simmer.
• While stock is coming to a simmer, bring about 2 quarts water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan. Soak noodles in a bowl of very hot water until softened, about 10 minutes, then drain in a colander. Add noodles to boiling water and cook 1 minute, then add lettuce and cook 30 seconds. Drain in a colander.
• Using tongs, divide noodles and lettuce among 6 deep bowls, forming small nests, then top with shredded chicken and diced ham. Ladle 1 cup hot broth into each bowl and sprinkle with sliced scallion.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE OR NOODLES

Steps:

• Remove excess fat and giblets from the chicken and discard.
• In a 5-qt. crock-pot combine the chicken broth, chicken, celery, carrot, saffron, sage, thyme, bay leaf and kosher salt.
• Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the chicken falls off the bone. Remove the chicken and cool; debone and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Strain the broth through a sieve lined with 2 paper towels, this removes the sediment and some of the fat. This can be done a day ahead and more fat can be removed from the top of the chilled broth.
• In a large sauce pan heat the oil over medium-high heat, saute the onion, carrots and celery until the onion is transulent.
• Add the strained broth and bring to a boil.
• Add the rice or noodles and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
• Stir in the chicken, cover; simmer until the rice/noodles are tender and the chicken is heated through.
• Remove from heat and add the escarole; cover and set aside until the escarole wilts, about 2 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.