Miến Gà - Vietnamese Chicken Soup w/ Glass Noodles
A comforting Vietnamese chicken soup with clear glass (mung bean) noodles. Originally from northern Vietnam but now found throughout, and available in restaurants in the US too.
- Prep time
- 8 min
- Cook time
- 40 min
- Yield
- 5 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 2 lb organic, free range chicken (leg and thigh (or any cuts you prefer))
- 1 tbsp salt (for cleaning)
- tap water (for cleaning)
- ~12.5 oz glass noodles (dry weight) (aka cellophane noodles, mung bean noodles, bean thread. Each bowl needs about 2.5 oz dry weight.)
- filtered water
- 8 c filtered water
- 3 tsp salt
- 3 tsp sugar
- .5 tsp monosodium glutamate / MSG
- 1 bunch cilantro (roughly chopped)
- 1 bunch green onions (roughly chopped)
- .25 red onion sliced paper thin (optional)
- 5 tbsp deep fried shallots (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Clean the chicken. Bring a pot of tap water and 1 tbsp salt to a boil, using enough to cover all the chicken you're using. Once it hits a boil, add the chicken for about 2-3 minutes. Discard the water and scrub the chicken under running water in the sink with your hands.
- 2
Fill the pot with enough filtered water to cover the chicken and turn the heat to high. Add salt, sugar and MSG to the pot proportional to how much water you used and of course, adjust to your taste. Once the water hits a boil, turn the heat down so its just high enough to maintain a low boil. It's done when the chicken when cut, is no longer pink inside. About 30 minutes.
- 3
Soak enough glass noodles for five bowls, in warm filtered water Approximately 10 minutes. You can use hot water to soak, and it will cook faster, but you have to monitor it more closely for the doneness you'd like. I like them slightly chewy / al dente, but some folks like them super soft. Rinse and drain once done.
- 4
Wash your cilantro and green onion, roughly chop into 1/3" long pieces and add to a garnish bowl. Thinly slice red onion if you're using it and add to a separate bowl.
- 5
Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the broth and either rinse it or cover with plastic wrap in a bowl to prevent it from discoloring. Once it cools you can shred or chop it.
- 6
Assemble your bowls in this order: noodles, chicken, boiling hot broth, and top with garnish.