Home-Style Dishes
Drip Chicken Essence (Di Ji Jing)
Traditionally supports strength and recovery after illness or surgery
Why people make this
Drip chicken essence is one of those old-fashioned home remedies Bro Niu loves because it is honest and simple: pure, fat-skimmed chicken broth with nothing diluting it. The half-bowl or so you get is the concentrated essence, traditionally given warm to help someone rebuild strength after surgery, a long illness, or childbirth. Best of all, you also get tender steamed chicken to eat afterward, so nothing is wasted.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Traditionally chosen by people recovering from surgery or illness, and by women after childbirth, to help rebuild strength.
- Use chicken that is free-range and raised without hormones, and always remove the skin and fat. Bro Niu advises starting only a few days after surgery, once the person can take liquids, and keeping portions small so it doesn’t overload the stomach. If recovery is slow or complicated, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chicken (ji): A classic warming, nourishing base traditionally associated with rebuilding strength and energy.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Bro Niu adds a few slices to warm the stomach and lift the aroma.
Ingredients (about half a bowl of essence)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole chicken | 1 | Free-range, hormone-free; skinned and de-fatted |
| Fresh ginger | a few slices | Placed on the chicken |
Method
- Ask the butcher to skin the chicken, then trim off the fatty parts at home.
- Chop into large pieces and lightly crack the bones with the back of the knife.
- Set a steaming rack inside a double-boiler pot, then place the chicken on the rack so the dripping juices aren’t reabsorbed by the meat.
- Lay a few slices of ginger on top. Add no water. Seal the pot with foil so steam can’t get in.
- Set the pot inside a wok with water and double-boil (steam) for 2 hours.
- Skim off the surface oil from the small amount of essence collected, and serve warm.
Bro Niu’s tips
Making it yourself means you get both the essence to drink and the chicken to eat. You can also double-boil it in a rice cooker: set the pot inside, add 4–5 bowls of water around it, press the switch, and you don’t need to watch the flame. Suitable for women after childbirth too.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (natalie ng): A family member had lung surgery last week — when can they start drinking the chicken essence? Any soup to support qi? Bro Niu: About 3 days after surgery you can give clear chicken essence to help build strength and speed recovery. To support qi, simmer bei qi (astragalus) and dang shen, 3 qian each, with 5 red dates in lean pork soup.
- Q (Annie): A family member just had surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries — what soup can I make, and is drip chicken essence okay? Bro Niu: Drip chicken essence (or drip lean-pork essence) is fine, but buy free-range, hormone-free chicken and remove the skin. A congee of dried scallop and tangerine peel with a little astragalus also helps recovery.
- Q (Daisy): A family member just had brain surgery for a tumor — how many days after can they start drinking lean-pork essence? Bro Niu: Double-boiled lean-pork essence can be given as soon as the patient can take liquid foods. The main thing is to keep it free of fat and grease.
Published May 1, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
