Huaiyang Yam Chicken Soup

山药鸡汤

Huaiyang Yam Chicken Soup — a Jiangsu Chinese recipe made with bone-in chicken thighs, ready in about 40 minutes. Step-by-step instructions with photos.

Ingredients

• bone-in chicken thighs
• Chinese yam (nagaimo or huai yam)
• ginger
• white pepper

Instructions

1. Rinse chicken. In a clean pot, combine chicken, ginger, and 1.5 L cold water. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat.
2. Skim off foam with a fine-mesh ladle. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer 20 minutes.
3. Peel and julienne yam. Rinse under cold water to remove slime. Add to pot and simmer 5 more minutes.
4. Season with white pepper. Taste and adjust—do not add salt unless broth tastes flat (chicken provides natural savoriness).
5. Ladle into warmed bowls. Serve immediately—yam softens quickly if held.