Rice Congee, Chicken Thighs And Mustard Greens Recipe

Ingredients

• Pickled Mustard Greens
• 2 large heads mustard greens, tough stems removed and leaves sliced crosswise in quarters
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1½ tablespoons Szechuan peppercorns
• 1 green Thai chile, halved lengthwise
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• Rice Congee
• 2 cups jasmine rice
• 8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ¼ cup roughly chopped roasted, salted peanuts
• 1-inch piece daikon, peeled and sliced into thin matchsticks
• Braised Chicken
• 1 pound chicken thighs
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
• 8 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons dark mushroom soy sauce
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole clove
• ½ star anise pod
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Optional Ingredients

• 2 chicken carcasses (optional)

Directions

1. Pickle the mustard greens: In a large bowl, toss the mustard greens with salt. Add the garlic cloves, Szechuan peppercorns and chile halves and toss to combine. In a medium saucepan set over high heat, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Add the vinegar and pour the hot liquid over the mustard greens. Transfer the greens to a 2-quart container, cover and refrigerate for 3 days, shaking the greens once a day to redistribute the pickling liquid.
2. Make the rice congee: In a large bowl, add the rice and cover with cold water. Rinse the rice, drain through a fine-mesh sieve and return the rice to the bowl. Repeat twice. Transfer the rice to a large pot and add the vegetable broth, chicken carcasses (if using) and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and gently simmer until the rice breaks down into a porridgelike consistency, 3 to 4 hours. Remove the chicken carcasses, taste and adjust the salt as needed.
3. While the congee cooks, make the braised chicken: On a cutting board, season the chicken with the salt and pepper. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat until hot, about 1 minute. Place the chicken skin-side down in the pot and cook until browned, about 7 minutes. Use tongs to transfer the chicken to a large plate. To the pot, add the vegetable broth, soy sauce, cinnamon stick, clove, star anise, ginger and sugar. Bring to a simmer, return the chicken to the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 hour. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Return the braising liquid to a simmer and cook until reduced by one-third and the braising liquid is slightly thicker. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skin and bones and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken pieces to the braising liquid.
4. Ladle about ½ cup of congee into 4 bowls. Top with some chicken and braising liquid and some of the pickled mustard greens. Sprinkle with scallions, cilantro, peanuts and daikon and serve.