Chicken & Rice Soup with Ginger & Toasted Sesame

This recipe is a republish from 2016, originally inspired by a lunch at a little Korean shop, and long due for an update. If you hadn’t tried this one before, now’s the time! It’s bolder and tastier than ever.

Located in an otherwise uninviting strip mall, “A Cup of Peace” is one of the few places in Boulder serving Korean food. While I have no idea what they put in their recipe for chicken soup, one bowl was enough to inspire me to make my own. An extremely simple soup, the broth is robust with umami, in part because it is doused with soy sauce and sesame oil (which is like liquid gold in the kitchen, isn’t it?).

In a time where we all need a little added comfort in our lives, chicken soup seems like a sort of staple. A healing, cozy staple. Perhaps because I haven’t eaten much of it, classic chicken noodle soup has never been my thing. But the flavors here are very much my thing. (In case you forgot already, toasted sesame oil is liquid gold status in my cupboard).

Chicken & Rice Soup with Ginger & Toasted Sesame

Published March 14, 2020 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 6   |    Active Time: 45 minutes

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Ingredients:

1 tablespoon coconut oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 inch ginger, minced or finely grated

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon chili garlic paste (Sambal Oelek)

1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)

1/2 cup dry white rice

1 zucchini

1 summer squash

3 stalks green onion, green and white parts sliced (roots removed)

Drizzle of toasted sesame oil

Salt to taste (Note: depending on your broth, you may not need any salt)

1/4 cup sesame seeds

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, and sauté a few minutes, until golden.
2. Pour broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and (optionally) fish sauce to the pot, and stir.
3. Bring soup to a simmer, and add chicken breast. Continue to simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. (If using Instant Pot, see note below)
4. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove chicken from the broth. Use two forks to shred the chicken. Then, add it back to the soup.
5. Slice zucchini and summer squash into half-moons. Add zucchini, squash and the dried white rice to the soup, and return to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until the vegetables and rice are tender, about 15 minutes.
6. While soup is cooking, toast sesame seeds: place in a skillet over low heat. Shake the pan every minute or two to stir the seeds. Watch closely to avoid burning, and remove seeds from heat once lightly golden. Set aside.
7. Remove soup from heat. Stir, and optionally season to taste with salt (depending on your broth, you may not need any salt!). Stir in half of the green onions, and drizzle with toasted sesame oil.
8. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with additional green onions and sesame seeds. Serve.

Note: If using an Insant Pot, saute ginger and garlic in bottom of IP using Sauté setting. Add broth, soy sauce, vinegar, chii garlic sauce, fish sauce, chicken, zucchini, summer squash, and dried rice. Turn IP to Manual and set to High Pressure for 7 minutes with valve closed. Allow to naturally release for 5 minutes, then open the valve.

Easy, One Pan Paleo Ground Beef Korma

This is an older recipe from Foraged Dish that has been a long-time reader favorite, and a favorite of mine. I’m republishing it with some updates, including a how-to video that really highlights how easy it is to make this dish! 

The Whole Foods Market in Boulder is extra large, partly because of an expansive prepared foods / hot bar / salad bar section. It’s buzzing with people at lunch time, and the parking lot is a mess! That’s where I first discovered ground beef korma — the hot bar, back in 2015. Whole Foods still has ground beef korma on it’s hot bar sometimes. Theirs is studded with peas but otherwise is super simple. That’s the beauty of this dish: simplicity! 

I love curries, which is probably why, over the last three years this recipe has become a regular in our rotation. It’s by no means a traditional dish, but it is a 20-minute wonder, something you can make on the busiest of evenings. I’ve even made it camping, while in Ten Sleep, WY. 

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If the video player does not appear below, you can watch it here.

In India, I was taught the saying: “No hurry, no worry, no chicken curry.” It’s meant as an ironic statement there — because everyone is moving at their own pace — but also, there’s a lot of curry. In this case, the curry comes together fast so you don’t have to hurry or worry! :)

When I followed the Paleo to a T, I served this over cauliflower rice, but these days I serve it with regular rice. Take your pick — both are delicious. I do almost always use 85% beef, as it’s way juicier. If you do use 95% beef, you might add a touch more coconut milk than what the recipe calls for! 

Easy, One Pan Paleo Ground Beef Korma

Published February 12, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

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Serves: 4   |    Active Time: 20 minutes

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Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (85/15 recommended)

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 teaspoon minced ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium-sized jalapeño or serrano, minced (if you are sensitive to spicy foods, cut out and discard the seeds, then wash your hands and knife thoroughly)

1 sixteen-ounce can of crushed tomatoes

1/2 cup full fat canned coconut milk

1 teaspoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional--adds spice)

Dash of salt & pepper

To serve: rice or cauliflower rice

Garnish: Minced cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat coconut oil in a 10 or 12 inch skillet over medium heat until oil glistens.
2. Add onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeño to skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Sauté until onions are translucent.
3. Add beef, and use a wooden spatula to break meat up into grounds. Cook until browned.
4. Add tomatoes, coconut milk, curry powder, turmeric, cayenne, and a dash each of salt & pepper. Stir, and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Serve hot over rice or cauliflower rice, and garnish with cilantro.

5-Ingredient Chicken Salad

A LOT of time in my day is dedicated to food: I carve out time in the morning to make breakfast and we almost always make dinner after going to the gym in the evening... not to mention all of the moments in between! Made in Nature asked me to write a post on their blog showing everyone what a day in the life of me is like, and this is one thing I realized. Food = life. Read all about it on their site later today, here! 

A lot of the recipes on Foraged Dish have quite the ingredient list, which isn't always approachable for lunch on a weekday, so this recipe is an example of a lunch that is quick and easy to make any old day of the week, or even the night before! I'm a big fan of leftovers for lunch, but sometimes I just don't have any, so this simple salad is one way to a glorious desk lunch. 

So this chicken salad: YES, it has only 5-ingredients (ok, it's six if you count salt & pepper, but do those even count?):

• Chicken (duh!)
• Pecans for a nutty crunch
• Raisins add a touch of sweetness and a bit of chew--I used the Made in Nature Raisins, which have no added sugar (or anything, they are just raisins!) 
• Celery keeps everything bright and fresh
• Yogurt brings it all together. You can use mayo in place of the yogurt if you prefer, too.

This is about convenience, so use what you have. If you have mustard in the house, add a tablespoon! It adds just a bit more flavor and sauciness which I do not oppose. But for the sake of keeping this recipe easy and short, don't worry about mustard if you can't find it or you feel too lazy.

Because I am always (always) sneaking veggies onto my plate, I serve it all over a bed of greens. In this case, it's baby spinach but you could use arugula, lettuce, or a blend. You pick! 

This recipe is below, but I'm also sharing a Mango Coconut Chia Parfait that is seriously amazing over on the Made in Nature blog later today, that you should probably go check out, too. 

Made in Nature provided me with product and compensation to make a recipe with their product, but this is a recipe I make all the time already. Opinions are all my own. Working with brands to develop wholesome recipes is one way I keep Foraged Dish going! Made in Nature helps me stock the pantry and keep the blog going. I only work with brands that I truly enjoy and use. This post may contain affiliate links.

5-Ingredient Chicken Salad

Published May 16, 2017 by Caitlin Sherwood

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5-Ingredients and so easy you can make it in the morning before work, or in a big batch the night before.

Serves: 3   |    Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients:

• 2 cups cubed chicken breast (cooked)
• 1/2 cup chopped celery (bite sized pieces)
• 1/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt or mayo 
• 1/4 cup raisins with no added sugar
• 1/4 cup toasted pecan pieces 
• Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until even is well distributed. Chill in fridge and serve over a bed of greens.