The Best Healing Chicken Soup (Printable Version)
Comforting bowl packed with vegetables, herbs, and tender chicken in rich broth.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1.5 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs or whole cut-up chicken
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 parsnip, peeled and sliced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
08 - 2 cups baby spinach or kale, chopped
09 - 1 small lemon, juiced
→ Broth & Seasoning
10 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 bay leaf
12 - 1 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 tsp sea salt, or to taste
17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Optional Additions
19 - 1/2 cup cooked rice, noodles, or quinoa
# How-To:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and parsnip. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.
02 - Add minced garlic to the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
03 - Place chicken thighs into the pot. Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaf, thyme, oregano, turmeric, black pepper, and salt.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 35 to 40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
05 - Remove chicken pieces from the pot and set aside on a cutting board or plate to cool slightly for easier handling.
06 - Add zucchini and spinach or kale to the simmering broth. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables are just tender.
07 - Once chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat from the bones, discarding skin and bones. Return shredded chicken to the soup pot.
08 - Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
09 - If desired, stir in cooked rice, noodles, or quinoa. Heat through for 2 to 3 minutes until warmed completely.
10 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The turmeric and ginger give it that golden healing color that feels like sunshine in a bowl
- Its the kind of soup that tastes even better the next day when flavors have had time to become friends
02 -
- I once forgot to remove the bay leaf before serving and someone got an unpleasant surprise
- Adding the lemon juice right at the end preserves its bright fresh flavor
03 -
- Use a whole chicken or add chicken wings for even richer broth flavor
- For a vegetarian version substitute chickpeas for chicken and use vegetable broth