3 black chicken soup recipes. Gentle tonics for the whole family .
Black chickens are also known as silky chicken or silkies. In some parts of the world, they are pets. In my part of the world, they are considered food.
The silky chicken is fairly small compared to a normal chicken. It does not necessarily have black feathers. In fact, its plummage is more furry than feathers and many have snowy white plummage.
It is called black chicken because its beak, bones, flesh, skin and even internal organs are black or dark blue in colour. It doesn't look very appealing because of the dark colour and the meat is fairly dry (in my opinion) but it is valued for its curative effects.
I remember seeing a cooking show where a chef tried to prepare a silkie by confitting it. Might be a good idea.
Modern scientific research has discovered that the silky chicken's level of protein, vitamin B, 18 amino acids and minerals are much higher than normal chicken while cholesterol and saturated fats are much lower.
Substitute with a small fresh chicken if you can't find or do not like the silky.
Ingredients
Directions
Black chicken is almost always prepared in tonics or herbal soups together with Chinese herbs to alleviate certain ailments such as fatigue, osteoporosis, iron deficient anaemia and hair loss.
Check out this herbal hair tonic where the chicken is steamed with 何首乌 (he shou wu), ginseng, red dates and ginger and this double-boiled soup with goji berries and Chinese yam.
This black chicken soup is steamed and is a common soup tonic for both men and women concerned about white hair or thinning hair.
He shou wu is a Chinese herb blackish in color. It should be fairly easy to find in Chinese medicinal halls. They are reputed to keep hair black. Many ladies like to prepare hair soup tonics for their husbands and themselves using he shou wu. The colour of the soup will be quite dark because of this herb.
Ginseng is an all-round tonic. It is popular because almost everyone from a child to an old folk can take it. Whole ginsengs are very expensive. Buy ginseng root as a cheaper alternative. They are just as good, just not as visually impressive. Another good alternative is to use ginseng tea bags. I think these are more readily available and cheaper too.
Ingredients
Directions
This black chicken soup with goji berries and Chinese yam is doubled boiled using a ceramic double boiling jar.
If you do not have one, you can use a ceramic tureen with a cover and steam it in a large stock pot or wok. Bring the water in the pot to a boil and lower the heat and simmer.
A classic gentle tonic and so easy to make. This soup should be only enough for 1 or 2 persons.
Ingredients
Directions (for double boiling jar and 1 big wok)
The ingredients in this video tutorial is not the same as mine but the method/instruction is similar. Have a look and see how simple it is to make.