Arroz Caldo - Filipino Chicken Porridge

Servings: 20

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 50 mins

Filipino cuisine often features rice-based breakfast, paired with eggs, fish or meat with vegetables, giving a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

Some of the traditional favourites in the diet can be adapted to suit digestion and long-term health onboard. Arroz Caldo, a Chinese chicken congee (porridge), flavoured with ginger, garlic, onions, boiled egg, and spring onions can be a suitable breakfast for healthy gut. By adding fish sauce, this Chinese-style porridge takes on a Filipino flavour. It is more popular during winter and rainy season.

Ingredients you'll need

Chicken (cut into serving pieces, with bones for flavour) –
6.5 lbs (approx.3 kg)
Jasmine rice – 2.5 cups
Sweet rice (glutinous rice, optional) – 2.5 cups
Water – 3.3 L (about 14 cups)
Garlic – 25 cloves, chopped
Onion – 8–10 medium, chopped
Ginger – 8–10 thumbs, julienned
Turmeric powder – 3 tsp (for colour and mild flavour)
Fish sauce – according to taste
Ground black pepper – according to taste
Hard-boiled eggs – 20 pieces
Green onions (spring onions), chopped – 2.5-3 cups
Cooking oil – 1 cup total

Instructions

Garlic Topping

Heat 5 tbsp oil in a large pot, add chopped garlic and fry until golden.

Remove and set aside for topping.

Saute Base

In the same pot with remaining oil, saute onions until soft.

Add ginger and cook for 1 minute.

Add chicken pieces, stir until lightly browned.

Season with 2 tbsp fish sauce.

Rice & Broth

Add jasmine and sweet rice, stir briefly.

Pour in water, cover and let it simmer on low, stirring occasionally, until rice breaks down into a porridge-like consistency (about 35–40 minutes).

Seasoning

Add turmeric powder for colour and warmth.

Season with more fish sauce and black pepper as needed.

Finish & Serve

Stir in half of the toasted garlic.

Serve in bowls topped with: Hard-boiled egg halves, chopped spring onions, remaining garlic.

Optional side: Calamansi (or lemon) with fish sauce for dipping.

Notes:

Add 1 tsp of ginger oil to warm the body during cold weather.
Reduce the amount of spices and add cooling toppings like lemon to reduce hyperacidity impact on gut.
Use black pepper, garlic oil and extra ginger to boost digestion.

For personalized guidance on nutrition or healthy choices onboard, feel free to reach out to our in-house nutritionist,
Ms. Akshaya Mondkar, at nutritionist@executiveship.com.

Return to Recipes