Description
Classic homemade chicken and rice soup brings comfort to chilly evenings with its hearty blend of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and aromatic vegetables. Warm broth and simple ingredients combine to create a nourishing meal you’ll crave on cold days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 6 cups (1.4 L) low-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup (150 g) uncooked white rice
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Vegetable Foundation: Sauté onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until softened, releasing their aromatic essence and creating a flavorful base for the soup.
- Spice Infusion: Incorporate garlic, thyme, oregano, turmeric, salt, and pepper, developing a complex and fragrant layer that will permeate the entire dish.
- Liquid Landscape: Pour chicken broth into the pot, add raw chicken and bay leaf. Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing flavors to meld and chicken to cook thoroughly.
- Chicken Preparation: Remove cooked chicken from broth and shred into delicate pieces using two forks, creating a rustic and appealing texture.
- Rice Integration: Add uncooked rice directly to the simmering broth, letting the grains absorb the rich, layered flavors until perfectly tender.
- Final Assembly: Reintroduce shredded chicken to the soup, ensuring even distribution. Enhance with a bright splash of lemon juice and fresh parsley for a zesty, herbaceous finish.
- Flavor Refinement: Conduct a final taste assessment, adjusting seasonings to achieve a perfectly balanced profile. Serve steaming hot, ideally accompanied by crusty bread or crisp crackers.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select high-quality, fresh chicken and crisp vegetables to enhance the soup’s overall flavor and nutritional value.
- Control Rice Consistency: Add rice near the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain a perfect al dente texture that doesn’t become mushy.
- Optimize Chicken Tenderness: Simmer chicken gently to ensure it remains juicy and easily shreds, avoiding tough or dry meat.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular rice with cauliflower rice for low-carb version or use gluten-free broth for sensitive diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg