Authentic Healing Chinese Chicken Soup

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Servings 6

Whole chicken Rinsed and cleaned; about 4 pounds. Can be chopped or left whole depending on pot size.
12 pieces Dried shiitake mushrooms Must be rehydrated.
1 1/2 cups Water For soaking mushrooms.
8 cups Water For the soup base.
6 slices Ginger Smashed lightly to release flavor.
2 tbsp Rice wine Shaoxing wine or similar.
12 count Red dates (Jujubes) Deseeded.
1 tbsp Goji berries Rinsed.
1/2 tsp Salt Or to taste.

Rehydrate the dried shiitake mushrooms by soaking them in 1 ½ cups of water for 2 hours until soft. Squeeze excess water from the mushrooms, but reserve the soaking liquid for the soup. Remove stems if they are tough.
Blanch the whole chicken in a separate pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes to remove impurities and scum. Remove the chicken and rinse under cold water.
In a large soup pot, combine the blanched chicken, the 8 cups of fresh water, the reserved mushroom soaking liquid, ginger slices, rice wine, rehydrated mushrooms, and red dates.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer gently for 1 hour.
After 1 hour, stir in the goji berries and salt. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve hot, ladling the clear broth, chicken, and mushrooms into bowls.