Name: Chicken & Bok Choy Soup with Ginger & Mushrooms
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1/2 ounce (about 1/2 cup) dried shiitake or mixed dried mushrooms; 3 cups boiling water; 1 tablespoon peanut oil or canola oil; 2 cups diced onion; 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 6 1/8-inch-thick slices peeled fresh ginger; 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth; 0.25 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce; 1 2-to-3-inch cinnamon stick; 1 whole star anise; 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 bulb fennel, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces; 8 scallions, whites cut into 2-inch pieces and greens chopped, divided; 1 pound bok choy, preferably baby bok choy, white stems sliced lengthwise and greens chopped, divided; 2 cups (4 ounces) mung bean sprouts (see Note); 0.5 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil; Lime wedges for garnish

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

30 mins

Additional Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

8 servings, about 1 3/4 cups each

Nutrition Profile:

Low-Carb Dairy-Free Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Low Added Sugar High-Protein Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

How to Make Chicken & Bok Choy Soup

Soak the Dried Shiitake Mushrooms

Dried shiitake mushrooms are a key ingredient, providing two elements to the soup. First, the dried mushrooms are soaked in 3 cups of boiling water until softened. The soaking liquid is full of flavor, so don't throw it out. It's added to the base of the soup, giving it a boost of umami and depth. Then, the mushrooms are sliced and added to the soup.

image of water being poured over dried shitake mushrooms — Photographer: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Prep the Vegetables

Before you start cooking, it helps to prep all of your ingredients beforehand. This includes dicing onions, peeling ginger, cutting fennel and chopping green onions and bok choy.

How to Serve Chicken & Bok Choy Soup

Serve the soup with chile sauce, such as Sriracha, for an extra kick of heat. You can also serve the soup over noodles to make it a more substantial main dish.

How to Store Chicken & Bok Choy Soup

This soup can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can reheat the soup on the stovetop or microwave it on High until warm.

Additional reporting by Jan Valdez

Ingredients

1/2 ounce (about 1/2 cup) dried shiitake or mixed dried mushrooms
3 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon peanut oil or canola oil
2 cups diced onion
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
6 1/8-inch-thick slices peeled fresh ginger
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 2-to-3-inch cinnamon stick
1 whole star anise
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 bulb fennel, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
8 scallions, whites cut into 2-inch pieces and greens chopped, divided
1 pound bok choy, preferably baby bok choy, white stems sliced lengthwise and greens chopped, divided
2 cups (4 ounces) mung bean sprouts (see Note)
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
Lime wedges for garnish

Directions

Place mushrooms in a heatproof measuring cup and cover with boiling water. Soak for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours. Remove the mushrooms from the water, remove and discard stems (if any) and cut into 1/8-inch slices; set aside. Strain the soaking liquid and reserve.
Heat oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Pour in the reserved mushroom liquid, broth, soy sauce, cinnamon stick, star anise and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in chicken. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Photographer: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Stir in fennel, scallion whites and the reserved mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Add bok choy stems, return to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes more. Stir in bok choy greens and bean sprouts. Cook until the greens are just wilted, about 2 minutes more.

Photographer: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Discard the cinnamon stick and star anise. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each bowl with scallion greens, cilantro and a 1/4-teaspoon drizzle of sesame oil. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Photographer: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Equipment

Large soup pot or Dutch oven

Note

Mung bean sprouts (germinated mung beans), often simply labeled "bean sprouts," are white with a light yellow tip.

People with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should use soy sauces that are labeled "gluten-free," as soy sauce may contain wheat or other gluten-containing sweeteners and flavors.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2010; updated November 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

257	Calories
11g	Fat
13g	Carbs
27g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 1 3/4 cups
Calories 257
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 13g	5%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 27g	54%
Total Fat 11g	15%
Saturated Fat 3g	14%
Cholesterol 76mg	25%
Vitamin A 2920IU	58%
Vitamin C 29mg	32%
Folate 79mcg	20%
Sodium 789mg	34%
Calcium 107mg	8%
Iron 3mg	17%
Magnesium 50mg	12%
Potassium 832mg	18%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.