Chicken noodle soup: take two!

Last week there were a few seriously gloomy, wet n' sloppy days after an early warm gorgeous [and addictive] Spring day. The tease of mother nature inspired me to make some soup, but I was in the mood for something crave when the weather makes my joints ache: vietnamese pho [pronounced fuh].

Pho is delicious and has so many layers of flavor and I cannot get enough of it when it's cold. So this Fall, when I tried a Rachael Ray taste-alike recipe I fell in love with the possibility I could make something similar to pho at home. Not the same, but very similar. The key ingredient to the flavor in this dish is the ginger [duh] and the Chinese five spice powder. If you make this DO try to locate the powder, because it is difficult to duplicate at home a la Martha Stewart style. Also, it's not listed in the original RR recipe, but I use fresh cilantro as a garnish and I think it adds more to the overall flavor.


Ginger Vegetable Chicken Noodle Bowl
[serves 4 very large portions]
Ingredients
2 T vegetable oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenders/breast/thigh cut into bite-size pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced/grated
1 [2-inch] piece ginger, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks or grated
1 cup shredded carrot
Salt & Pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons Chinese five spice powder
6 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb vermicelli [i.e. thin spaghetti]
4 scallions, cut into 2 1/2 inch lengths then cut into matchsticks 2 cups fresh crisp bean sprouts [do not try using canned... they are slimy, salty and mushy!]
Cilantro, chopped [optional]

Directions
Heat a medium sized pot over med-high heat and add the vegetable oil. Add the chicken, and cook until lightly browned, or about 3 minutes. Next, stir in the garlic and ginger. Add the carrots, season with salt and pepper, and add the cumin and five-spice powder.
Add the stock and bring soup to a boil. Drop in the vermicelli and decrease heat to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes.

Lastly, add the scallions and bean sprouts. Turn off the heat and let the soup stand for 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings, garnish with cilantro [if using] and serve.

Nothing can make you feel better than the cliche hot bowl of soup. Well maybe a cosmo can do the trick [for me]. Or a day on the beach [for me]. Or a massage. Okay maybe no other comfort food can make you feel better like the affects of a hot bowl of soup. Next time, give this Asian inspired noodle bowl a try and I promise you will come back for more.