How to Make Chinese Chicken Soup and Why It Is So Popular
The Secret of Chinese Soups - Why Their Flavor Captivates the World and Our Kitchens
Soup is a dish that has the power to soothe, warm, and simultaneously delight the taste buds. It takes countless forms in different parts of the world—from thick French bisques to light Japanese miso. One of the world's most beloved cuisines, Chinese, offers a diverse range of flavors, even in soup form. And although it might initially seem that Chinese soup is just a quick meal from an Asian bistro, its roots date back thousands of years, and it holds much more than just instant noodles and soy sauce.
While Western cuisine often emphasizes richness and creamy consistency, Chinese soups are light yet full of umami flavor—that elusive "fifth taste" that compels us to reach for another spoonful. Whether it's a gentle chicken broth soup or a spicy hot and sour variation, one thing is certain: in Chinese culture, soup is not just a meal, but a remedy, a ritual, and an expression of care.
The Best Chinese Soup? It Depends on Your Taste and Mood
Choosing the "best Chinese soup" is like picking the best song—it depends on taste, current mood, and the weather outside. Each region in China has its own recipes and traditions. While northern areas are dominated by spicy cuisine with chili and pepper, the south favors lightness and herbal broths.
Some Chinese soups have won the hearts of people worldwide, and it's no wonder—each has its own appeal. For example, hot and sour soup, with its combination of vinegar, pepper, mushrooms, tofu, and sometimes duck or chicken, perfectly awakens your taste buds. Then there's the wonton soup—a clear broth with delicate dumplings filled with a spicy mix of pork, ginger, and spring onions. And if you crave something comforting and reliable, chicken noodle soup is a clear choice—simple, nutritious, and ideal even for children.
Especially chicken Chinese soup has a firm place in Czech households. It's easy to understand why—it's quick to prepare, can easily be adapted based on the ingredients you have at home, and brings different flavor tones than traditional Czech broth.
How to Make Chinese Chicken Soup - A Simple Recipe Full of Flavor
The foundation of any good soup is the broth. In Chinese cuisine, the emphasis is on clarity, lightness, and depth of flavors, often achieved by combining ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce. If you want to prepare a simple yet extraordinary Chinese chicken soup at home, try the following recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken breast
- 1.5 liters of water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- a piece of fresh ginger (about 4 cm)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 spring onion
- 100 g rice noodles
- a handful of fresh spinach or bok choy
- salt, pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil the chicken breast in salted water with slices of ginger and garlic for about 15–20 minutes. Then remove the meat and slice it thinly.
- Add sesame oil and soy sauce to the broth. Throw in the noodles and cook according to the package instructions (usually 3–4 minutes).
- Add the sliced chicken, chopped spring onion, and leafy greens to the finished soup. Let it warm briefly.
- Finally, season with pepper and a bit of chili if you prefer a spicier version.
This Chinese chicken soup will delight you not only with its flavor but also with its simplicity. It's suitable as a quick dinner or as a restorative dish when you're feeling under the weather.
Spicy Chinese Soup - For Lovers of Fiery Flavors
While the gentle chicken variant will appeal to more conservative diners, spicy Chinese soup offers a completely different experience. Spicy flavors, especially typical for Sichuan cuisine, have a firm place in Chinese gastronomy. They were once used as a defense against parasites and infections—today, we enjoy them mainly for their intense and addictive character.
A popular variant is the aforementioned hot and sour soup, which can easily be adapted at home. All you need is broth, soy sauce, chili paste, mushrooms, tofu, and optionally chicken or duck. It's often thickened with starch to give it a slightly silky consistency.
Experienced chef and cookbook author Fuchsia Dunlop once noted: "Sichuan cuisine is like a dance of fire and flavor—spicy, but not just sharp. Every bite has its rhythm." And this is true of spicy Chinese soups—intense but balanced.
When "Chinese Soup" Means Instant
We cannot overlook the fact that for many of us, "Chinese soup" means something entirely different—a quick instant noodle mix that we know from the supermarket. Although it significantly differs from traditional recipes, its popularity cannot be denied. Five-minute preparation, intense flavor, and low cost have made it a staple not only among students.
However, even this simple dish can easily be "enhanced." Add fresh vegetables, an egg, a bit of sesame oil, or leftover roasted chicken, and within minutes, you have a meal that approaches a homemade version.
Interestingly, the instant "Chinese" soup has its roots in Japan—its creation is attributed to Momofuku Ando, the founder of the Nissin brand, who introduced the world's first instant noodles in 1958. Today, over 100 billion servings are sold worldwide each year.
Chinese Soup as Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
In traditional Chinese medicine, food is considered a means to achieve harmony of body and spirit. Soups are prepared with regard to the season, health condition, and energetic balance. For example, in winter, warming broths with ginger, garlic, and pepper are recommended, while in summer, cooling soups with watermelon or seaweed are served.
From the perspective of modern nutrition, Chinese soups are often rich in protein, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, while not containing unnecessary fats or excess calories. If you make them at home, you can fully control their composition—omit MSG, limit salt, add fermented vegetables or fresh herbs.
For inspiration, you don't have to travel far. Many ingredients for preparing Chinese dishes are now easily available in regular stores or specialized organic e-shops. For example, Ferwer.cz offers a wide range of durable and fresh foods without added chemicals, suitable for cooking Asian cuisine.
Whether you are a lover of traditional recipes or just looking for a new way to spice up your menu, Chinese soups offer a variety that everyone can appreciate in the kitchen. They can be gentle or fiery, nutritious or light, quick or festive. Perhaps that's where their magic lies—they can adapt to our tastes and current mood.
