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Arroz Caldo (Chicken Rice Porridge)

4.4

(18)

A bowl of arroz caldo topped with shredded chicken lime wedges and sliced scallions.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson

When my mother was a child, arroz caldo was just the thing for someone when they were sick. Rice was known to soothe upset stomachs and nourishing chicken broth remedied colds just as it does abroad. It was also for cool days, mainly in the rainy season, when warm thick congee spiked with ginger was gobbled down as merienda.

Arroz caldo is known by other names, too, including lugaw, pospas and goto, each with slightly different ingredients. The arroz caldo my mother ate was scattered with safflower; like many versions, this one is topped with crisp garlic chips for crunch. A mix of regular and sticky rice gives this dish just the right thickness and texture.

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