Vietnamese Comfort Food

Vietnamese Inspired Rice Porridge with Chicken (and maybe a Poached Egg)

Ingredients:

Porridge:

• ½ Cup Thai Jasmine Rice
• 1/3 (about 4~5 oz) Grilled Chicken Breast
• 1/8 small head of nappa cabbage
• Small piece of ginger
• 4 cubes frozen cilantro or fresh equivalent (not pictured)
• Salt and Pepper
• Chopped green onion for garnish
• An egg per serving (optional)

Soy-Lime Sauce:

• Lime juice from half a lime
• A couple tablespoons soy sauce (I used low sodium)
• A tablespoon sugar
•  I’m assuming most people have normal sugar lying around

Porridge:
1) Boil about six cups of water and add rice.

Side note I:You want around 10~12x the amount of rice you plan to cook.

2) Add chopped up cilantro and ginger. Stir occasionally for about an hour.

3) Add salt and pepper.

Sauce:
1) Combine lime juice, soy sauce, and sugar.

Poaching an egg:
1) Boil water and then reduce to a simmer, add a bit of vinegar.
Side note II: Vinegar is optional. It helps eggs to remain together, but not necessary.

2) Take a utensil and create a whirlpool with the water.
Side note III: This make is so that when you drop the egg in, the whirlpool will contain the egg in the center instead of spreading out.

3) Quickly drop the egg in the water.

4) With a slotted spoon pull out the egg after 2~4 minutes.

Plating:

Ladle porridge in bowl. Layer with chopped nappa cabbage, grilled chicken, poached egg and green onions. Pour a small amount of sauce over it.

Cost breakdown:

Porridge:

• Jasmine Rice: $1.32/4= $0.33
• Chicken: $1.19 x 0.33= $0.39
• Nappa Cabbage:  $0.52/8= $0.07
• Ginger: $0.20/5= $0.04
• Cilantro: $0.39/28= $0.015 $0.015x4= $0.06
• Green onion:$0.25/4= $0.06

Sauce:

• Soy Sauce: $3.19/20= $0.16 $0.16x2= $0.32
• Lime: $0.10/2= $0.05

Optional Poached Egg:

• $2.79/12= $0.23

Total (without Poached Egg): $0.33+$0.39+$0.07+$0.04+$0.06+$0.06+$0.32+$0.05= $1.32
Total per serving (without Poached Egg): $1.32/3= $0.43
Total per serving (with Poached Egg): 0.43+$0.23= $0.66