Description
Comforting lemon rosemary chicken soup brings Mediterranean warmth to winter tables with its fragrant herbs and zesty citrus notes. Fresh ingredients merge seamlessly, creating a nourishing bowl that whisks you straight to sunny kitchen memories.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great)
- 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp dried)
- 2 lemons (juice)
- 1 (15 oz) can cannellini or navy beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: grated Parmesan, extra rosemary, or crusty bread
Instructions
- Vegetable Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Sauté onion, carrots, and celery until they transform into a tender, aromatic base, releasing their natural sweetness and creating a flavor-rich canvas.
- Herb Infusion: Introduce minced garlic, fragrant rosemary, and Italian seasoning, allowing their essence to bloom and permeate the vegetable mixture, developing a robust aromatic profile.
- Liquid Harmony: Incorporate chicken, beans, and broth into the pot, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. This stage allows the ingredients to meld and exchange their distinctive flavors, creating a cohesive and nurturing soup.
- Green Enhancement: Add kale or spinach to the simmering liquid, letting the greens soften and integrate seamlessly while contributing nutritional depth and vibrant color to the soup.
- Bright Finishing: Extract rosemary sprigs, brighten the soup with fresh lemon juice, and calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper, ensuring a balanced and invigorating flavor profile.
- Presentation: Ladle the soup into serving bowls, offering optional Parmesan garnish or accompanying crusty bread for a complete, comforting meal experience.
Notes
- Cook onions, carrots, and celery slowly to develop deep, rich flavors without burning, ensuring a sweeter and more nuanced base for the soup.
- Add rosemary and garlic at the right moment to release their essential oils without scorching, creating an aromatic foundation that doesn’t overwhelm the dish.
- Add kale or spinach towards the end of cooking to maintain vibrant color, texture, and maximum nutritional value, avoiding wilted or mushy greens.
- Stir in lemon juice just before serving to preserve its fresh, zesty flavor and prevent the acid from becoming flat or bitter during prolonged cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg