Perfect for Cold Days or a Nourishing Dinner
This cozy soup is perfect when you’re feeling under the weather or just craving something healthy for dinner.
My husband, who’s into weight training, wanted to eat chicken breast—so I used both chicken thigh and chicken breast in this recipe.
The spicy kick from chili peppers and the warmth of ginger and garlic make this dish light yet full of flavor!
Ingredients
Chicken thigh | 200g / 7 oz |
Chicken breast (optional) | 200g / 7 oz |
Rice (glutinous rice is traditional, but regular rice works too!) | 4 tbsp |
Garlic | 5 cloves |
Ginger | 1 piece |
Leek (or green onion) | 1 stalk |
Water | 1 liter / 4 cups(US) / 34 fl oz |
Goji berries (optional) | 1 tbsp |
Chili pepper | 1 (skip if you’re not into spicy food) |
Salt & pepper | to taste |
How to Make
1⃣ Prep the ingredients
Peel the garlic.
Peel and thinly slice the ginger.
Cut the leek into 4cm (1.5-inch) pieces.
Slice the chili pepper into rings.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season both sides with salt.

2⃣ Make the soup
In a pot, add the chicken, rice, garlic, ginger, leek, chili, and water.
Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Once boiling, reduce to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes, skimming off any foam if needed.

3⃣ Final touch
About 10 minutes before it’s done, add the goji berries (if using).
Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
Tip: When serving, you can skip the garlic and ginger in your bowl—just enjoy the chicken, leek, and flavorful broth!

〇Leftover Magic: Easy Rice Porridge
The next day, turn the leftover soup into comforting rice porridge!
1. Remove the leftover ingredients from the soup.
2. Add 1 bowl of cooked rice and bring to a boil.
3. Stir in a beaten egg and cover for about 20 seconds—done!

Traditional Samgyetang is made with a whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, jujube (Korean dates), and herbs.
But this version is a simplified, easy-to-make dish using ingredients found in most Japanese (or international) supermarkets.
And yes—you can skip the goji berries if you don’t have them!
- Soothing and warms you from the inside out
- Super simple ingredients and prep
- Great for days when you’re tired or need a break from fried food
- Turn leftovers into a second dish with zero effort!

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