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When the weather cools or your heart just needs a little comfort, nothing beats a bowl of Arroz Caldo – a Filipino classic that’s like a warm hug in food form. Think of it as a chicken rice porridge, but with deep flavors of ginger, garlic, and a soul-soothing broth.
I still remember how my nani (grandmother) would prepare this whenever someone was feeling under the weather – the aroma of garlic sizzling in oil, the soft rice soaking up all that savory chicken broth. It’s nostalgic, healing, and incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
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1 cup uncooked rice (jasmine or short-grain preferred)
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2 tbsp oil
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1 onion, chopped
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, sliced
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500g chicken thighs or breast, cut into chunks
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5 cups chicken broth
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Fish sauce or salt to taste
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Black pepper
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Optional toppings: boiled egg, spring onion, fried garlic, calamansi or lemon
How to Make It:
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In a large pot, heat oil and sauté onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant.
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Add chicken and cook until lightly browned.
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Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil.
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Stir in the rice, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally.
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Cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the rice breaks down into a thick porridge.
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Season with fish sauce, salt, and pepper.
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Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
This dish is more than food—it’s medicine, memory, and love, all in one bowl. Perfect for cold evenings, flu recovery, or even a hearty Suhoor in Ramadan.