RECIPE

Asian Salmon-and-Rice Soup

  • Contributed by Quick From Scratch Soups & Salads
  • ACTIVE:
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  • SERVINGS: 4

A quick-to-make meal-in-a-bowl, this soup is inspired by similar one-dish wonders popular in China, Thailand, and Japan. The rice is sometimes cooked for so long that it completely dissolves, making a smooth gruel. Our version doesn't go that far; we like the rice to be soft, but still retain its shape.

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  • SERVINGS: 4
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Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 3/4 cup long-grain rice
    2. 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillet, skin removed, fish cut into 8 pieces
    3. 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    4. 1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil
    5. 10 cilantro stems, chopped, plus 1 cup cilantro leaves for garnish
    6. 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
    7. 1 teaspoon salt
    8. 2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
    9. 4 cups water
    10. 3 scallions including green tops, chopped

Directions

  1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Stir in the rice and boil until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
  2. Coat the salmon with the soy sauce and sesame oil.
  3. In a large pot, combine the cooked rice, the cilantro stems, the ginger, salt, broth, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
  4. Add the salmon to the pot. Simmer, covered, until the salmon is just done, about 5 minutes. Remove the cilantro stems. Serve the soup garnished with the cilantro leaves and scallions.

Notes

We used long-grain rice for our soup. In China and Japan, it would be made with short-grain, which is starchier and dissolves into the soup more readily. If you want to go the short-grain route, arborio is readily available.