Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 old cucumber, about 800 grams (1个老黄瓜，约800克)
- 2 whole chicken legs, about 700 grams (2只全鸡腿，约700克)
- 25 grams goji berries (25克枸杞)
- 4-5 red dates, about 25 grams, pitted (4-5颗红枣，约25克，去核)
- 3 litres water (3升水)
- Salt, to taste (盐，适量)
Instructions
Step 1 — Prepare the chicken
- Clean the chicken thoroughly with water.
- Remove any red clots around the bone area.
- If you don't want the soup to be too oily, remove the skin.
Step 2 — Prepare the old cucumber and dried ingredients
- Rinse the old cucumber thoroughly, cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then slice it into large chunks. There is no need to peel the skin.
- Rinse the red dates and goji berries.
- Tip: Leave the skin on. It holds the chunks together through the long simmer so they don't break down completely.
Step 3 — Bring everything to a boil
- Put the old cucumber, chicken, red dates and goji berries into a large pot.
- Add 3 litres of water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step 4 — Simmer and season
- Lower the heat and simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the cucumber is soft, the chicken is tender and the broth has turned golden.
- Season with salt to taste before serving.
Video
Notes
- Choose a heavy firm cucumber. A good old cucumber feels heavy for its size and has a firm, cracked-looking skin. Soft spots mean it is past its best.
- Remove the chicken skin for a lighter soup. The skin renders a lot of fat over two hours. Take it off if you prefer a cleaner, less oily broth.
- Season at the end. The soup reduces as it simmers, so salting early can leave it too salty. Add salt just before serving.