Chicken Arroz Caldo

I have been feeling under the weather the past few days and was craving for some Chicken Arroz Caldo.  What's Chicken Arroz Caldo?  It is the Filipino version of rice porridge or congee.  It's one of my comfort foods.  My mom often made it when someone wasn't feeling well or if it was just a cold day.  It reminds me a lot of my childhood  when I was growing up.  It's a dish you can eat either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.   Now my kids ask for it when they are feeling under the weather or just need a pick me up.  It's such a simple dish but so satisfying.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1 small onion, chopped, about 1/3 cup
1  piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped, about 1/2 tablespoon
2 pinches of saffron (I like to use a lot because my mom used a lot )
1 large boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup jasmine rice
6 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon fish sauce (This is optional)
4 spring onions, thinly sliced for garnish  (I like to put a lot in mine, you can use less)
3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced for garnish
3 calamansi or limes

Instructions

• In a big pot add water enough to cover the chicken that you will use.  Add some salt and pepper.  Let it boil until the chicken is fully cook.  Once it is cook set aside and cool.
• After the chicken breast has cooled, you can cut  it in 1 inch pieces.
• Sauté the garlic in oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer the garlic to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and let cool. 
• Add the onion, ginger, and saffron. Cook until the onion is translucent.
• Add the cooked chicken, rice, chicken stock, and fish sauce. Cover the pan and simmer over medium to low heat.  I usually pour the chicken stock enough to cover the rice.  If it still needs more stock pour in the rest of your stock.  Stir frequently and simmer until the chicken and rice are cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes. Note: the amount of stock you put depends on how thick you want your Chicken Arroz Caldo. 
• Once the rice has cooked to your liking you can put some in a bowl and garnish it with some hard-boiled eggs, spring onions, fried garlic, and calamansi.

Things your  little one can do

• Once you have put the Chicken Arroz Caldo in bowls ready to serve, have them put the garnish on.  Remember it is HOT.  Please supervise you kids when they do this.