There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of chicken soup to warm you up on a chilly winter’s day. This hearty dish is a beloved classic for a reason, offering comfort, nourishment, and a taste of home. The best part is that you can enjoy it in two delightful ways: with fresh noodles or with fluffy dumplings. Both versions are surprisingly easy to make from scratch, even on a tight budget.
Chicken Soup Tips
- Use a whole chicken: Buying a whole chicken and breaking it down yourself is often cheaper than buying pre-cut pieces. You can also use the carcass to make a flavourful broth for the soup.
- Simmer Low and Slow: Don’t rush the broth-making process. A longer simmer extracts more flavour from the chicken and vegetables. Remember to skim the froth and sediment from the broth in the early stages to remove bitterness.
- Don’t Overcook the Noodles: Cook the noodles just until they are tender, as they will continue to absorb liquid and soften as they sit in the soup.
- Perfect Dumplings: Ensure your dumplings are cooked through but still fluffy. Test one before serving the soup.
- Customise It: Add other vegetables like halved carrots, parsnips, celery, and maybe a small red onion. Experiment with different herbs and spices like rosemary, dill, Vegeta, or a pinch of turmeric.
- Freeze leftovers: Make a big batch of soup and freeze the extra portions for later. This is a great way to have a quick and easy meal on hand when you’re short on time.
- Garnish It: Just before serving, garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, chopped chives, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 1.5kg)
- 2 litres of water
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 large onion (red or brown), diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Noodles
- 100g dried egg noodles
Semolina Dumplings
- 20g vegetable oil
- 50g fine semolina
- 1 egg
Directions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the whole chicken in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 1.5-2 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remember to top up the water as it simmers and to remove any foam from the broth.
- Cool and Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside to cool. Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve into a smaller pot. Reserve the carrots and discard the other ingredients. You can eat the meat off the bones or add it to the soup.
- Cook the Vegetables: While the chicken is cooling, heat a drizzle of oil in a separate pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Herbs: Add the minced garlic, bay leaf, and dried thyme to the vegetables and cook gently for another minute.
- Combine Broth and Vegetables: Pour the strained chicken broth into the pot with the vegetables. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Prepare Noodles or Dumplings:
- Noodles: If you’re making chicken noodle soup, add the egg noodles to the pot and cook until they are tender, about 5-10 minutes.
- Semolina Dumplings: In a small mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, fine semolina, and egg. Whisk together with a fork until combined and let sit for 30 minutes. Ladle some soup into a smaller pot and bring to a boil. Place a fork or spoon into the boiling water. When hot, use them to cut small strips of the semolina mixture and add them to the soup. Bring it to a boil again, then simmer for 5 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked through. Add this to the main chicken soup.
- Add Shredded Chicken: Shred the cooled chicken meat and add it to the pot. Simmer until heated through.
- Season and Serve: Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Enjoy your comforting and delicious chicken soup!
For more hearty and comforting meal ideas, check out our collection of Stews, Casseroles & Soup Slow Cooker Recipes. You’ll find delicious recipes perfect for chilly days and busy weeknights.
For more information on buying the right slow cooker for you, we recommend you review the following: Slow Cooker Review.
