Hainanese Coconut Chicken Soup
By Tiffy Cooks
This Hainanese Coconut Chicken Soup 椰子雞湯 is the most refreshing soup for summer! This simple chicken soup is a popular dish in the tropical island of Southern China. Made by simmering chicken in coconut water, with fresh coconut meat added to the broth, it is light, naturally sweet, and so, so comforting. For the most refreshing addition to dinner, you have to try this chicken coconut soup!
Ingredients
- 6-8 chicken drumsticks bone-in and skin-on
- 2 Small fresh coconuts
- 4-5 slices ginger divided
- 2 green onions
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns optional
- 4-6 dried jujubes aka red dates
- Unsweetened bottled coconut water if needed
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the chicken drumsticks to a pot along with the green onion, a few slices of ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns, if using. Cover everything with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, simmer for 4 minutes.
- Drain the chicken and rinse it well under cold water. This helps remove impurities and gives the finished soup a much cleaner, clearer flavor.
- Open the fresh coconuts and pour all of the coconut water into a bowl. Using a spoon, scoop out the coconut flesh. Rinse the flesh, then slice it into thin strips.
- Add the blanched chicken to a clean pot along with the remaining ginger, dried jujubes, coconut flesh, and fresh coconut water. The chicken should be fully covered with coconut water. If your fresh coconuts don't provide enough, add unsweetened bottled coconut water until the drumsticks are submerged. Make sure there is no added sugar.
- Cover and bring everything to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Season with salt to taste and serve hot.
Notes
Pro tip: Fresh coconut gives the soup the best natural sweetness and aroma, but unsweetened bottled coconut water is totally fine for topping up the liquid.
Nutrition
Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 21gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 124mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
