Arroz caldo or lugaw (chicken congee)

Ingredients

• 1½ cups rice
• 1 kilo chicken cut up to serving sizes.
• 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground pepper

The other ingredients are pretty basic:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil,
• 1 whole garlic, peeled and minced,
• 1 piece thumb-sized ginger, peeled and minced,
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce,
• 1 onion, chopped,
• 1 piece leek, sliced diagonally,
• 1 teaspoon kasubha,
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper,
• 2 pieces chicken cube seasoning,
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste,
• 3 tablespoons minced scallion or spring/green onion and additional broth to make about 10 cups (maybe more) all in all.

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Preparation

• Washed the rice properly then drain thoroughly in a fine strainer. Brown it in a wok or pan without oil then set aside.
• Second,cut chicken up to serving sizes. While the use of cut up whole chicken is excellent, you can always use choice cuts of thighs or drumsticks. Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground pepper and then slowly boiled in a casserole with enough water to cover until just tender. Remove it from the broth and set aside. Strain the broth and set aside as well.
• Heat about 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a thick wok or large casserole then fry half of the garlic until crispy. Drain and set aside.
• In the same casserole, add some more oil and fry the remaining garlic followed by ginger. Add fish sauce, followed by onion and continue frying. Add the slightly browned rice and sauté.
• Pour the broth in and let it boil with the lid on. Add the chicken cubes and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 40-45 minutes or until the rice grains are cooked and puffed. Add in the chicken, leeks and half of the green onions. When it boils again, taste and adjust the seasonings. Add salt or fish sauce if necessary.
• To make the dish a real killer, add inn some pre-boiled chicken liver and cook for 3 more minutes. Adjust the broth level according to the consistency you like. After a minute, turn off the heat and its done.
• Ladle into individual serving bowls, top with crispy fried garlic, some more minced scallion or green onion and slices of hard boiled egg (optional) and serve immediately.