How to Make Chicken Soup

Chicken soup. Mmmm...The aroma, the flavors, the hot steam rising up to your face, the pieces of sweet corn in it - something so comforting about it all, don't you think? The official comfort food when you're down with a temperature; or when nostalgia of home and mum's cooking grips you. The really, really simple food. Essentially complete all by itself. No frills required, no elaborate preparations and hardly any time spent. Let's do this together, let's learn how to make chicken soup, shall we?

Making Chicken Soup from Scratch

Ingredients You'll Need

• 1 Chicken (4-5 Pounds)
• 2 - Quarts of cold water
• Parsley
• 2 Teaspoons salt
• Chicken bouillon (2 cubes)
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 Chopped carrots (chopped)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 stalks of celery (chopped)
• Pepper and salt to taste.

Preparation

1. Wash the chicken thoroughly.
2. Get rid of all the excess fat.
3. Make quarter pieces of the chicken. Then place it in a stock pot.
4. Add the cold water, the bay leaf and 2 teaspoons salt.
5. Then bring to boil by covering the pot with a cover.
6. Once it boils, uncover it and remove the froth that has collected on the top layer.
7. Let this simmer for 2 - 2 and 1/2 hours.
8. Add the remaining ingredients - Celery, carrot, parsley and onions into the pot.
9. Let this simmer for about 45-50 minutes.
10. The soup is ready to be eaten.
11. You can mix cooked rice dumplings or noodles with the soup to add more substance to it.
12. Add seasonings like coriander leaves or dill or sweet corn to add to the flavor.

How to Make Chicken Stock
The answer that needs to be given when asked how to prepare chicken soup at home is that of adding chicken stock to it. It is the most crucial ingredient when making chicken soup and tastes best when prepared at home. Chicken stock lends a very full and creamy texture to the chicken soup. It increases the taste and flavors of the soup, making it more wholesome and delicious. Chicken stock cannot be substituted with broth or bouillon for that authentic taste. To make this:

1. Put 5-6 pounds of chicken pieces ion a pot and add cold water till the pieces are covered in it.
2. Boil it. When it begins to boil then reduce the heat and let it simmer.
3. Skim it till no impurities remain. (around 30 minutes).
4. Then add the following ingredients to it - 1 coarsely chopped onion, 1 celery stick, some parsley, 1 carrot, 1 bay leaf, a teaspoon of thyme.
5. Simmer this for 3 hours, after adding water so that it comes above all the ingredients.
6. Then strain into a pot and refrigerate.
7. the stock is ready to be used.
8. Keep in mind to get rid of the fat that collects on the surface before using the stock.

Preparing Chicken Soup at Home

Ingredients You'll Need

• 3-4 Chicken drumsticks
• 1 Onion
• Oil (2 tablespoons).
• Water (3 cups).
• Turmeric (Quarter teaspoon).
• Garlic Paste (Quarter teaspoon)
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation

1. Take the chicken and clean the skin and fat. Wash it thoroughly.
2. Take 2 tablespoons of oil and heat it in a pan.
3. Add thickly cut onion slices in the oil and fry.
4. After the onion color changes to light or golden brown, add the chicken drumsticks and fry for 4-5 minutes.
5. Boil 3 cups of water in a pot.
6. Then add the fried chicken and onions into this water.
7. Add the turmeric power, garlic powder, pepper and salt into the pan and stir well.
8. Add the chicken stock and stir till it mixes.
9. Cover the pot and let simmer for 30 minutes.
10. The soup is ready to be served.

Now that naking chicken soup has become clear to you, you can make a delicious, homemade batch and re-visit nostalgia. And while you are at it, call your friends over and wow them. Happy cooking!