Celebrating Asian Heritage Month With Thai Trade Toronto

With Asian Heritage Month underway, we’re sharing an amazing recipe, Arroz Caldo, courtesy of Thai Trade Toronto. This recipe is from chef Wesley Altuna of Bawang Toronto highlighting some key ingredients that are imported into Canada from Thailand. Enjoy! —Vita Daily

Arroz Caldo

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic minced
1 ½ inch piece of ginger peeled, sliced into strips and chunks
1 medium white onion or shallot chopped
4 scallions finely sliced
2 whole chicken legs (thigh + drum)
1 cup of jasmine rice (my go-to is Ox Head Jasmine Scented Thai Hom Mali Rice)
1 chicken bouillon cube
2-3 tablespoons of fish sauce
6-8 cups of water
Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste

1. Heat a large stock pot over medium-low heat and add onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until the onion starts to become transparent, which should take about 3-5 minutes.
2. Add chicken, fish sauce, and ground pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is nearly all cooked.
3. Pour in the chicken stock and rice and increase the heat to high until it comes to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat to low and let the pot simmer. Let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently until the chicken is tender and the rice is fluffy and cooked.
5. Remove the chicken from the pot, strip the meat off the bone then place the chicken back in the pot. Continue to simmer for another 15-20mins before it’s ready to serve.
6. Garnish with fresh scallions, minced ginger and fried garlic (if you have it). Add some fried tofu if you like or whatever other protein you want. Top it with a boiled egg and squeeze of lime, and you’re good to go!