Description
Heartwarming chicken and rice soup brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending tender chicken, fluffy rice, and aromatic herbs. Nourishing ingredients combine to create a soul-soothing bowl that wraps warm wellness around you.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
Liquid, Grains, and Seasonings:
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup uncooked white rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a spacious pot, warm olive oil and gently transform onions, carrots, and celery into a tender, aromatic foundation. Allow vegetables to soften and release their subtle essence.
- Introduce garlic and spices – thyme, oregano, turmeric, salt, and pepper – creating a fragrant layer of complexity that will infuse the entire soup with depth.
- Cascade chicken broth into the pot, nestling raw chicken and bay leaf into the liquid landscape. Elevate heat until the mixture reaches a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Allow the chicken to cook thoroughly, transforming from raw to tender, absorbing the harmonious blend of herbs and vegetables. This process typically requires 20-25 minutes of patient simmering.
- Extract the cooked chicken from its broth bath and deconstruct it into delicate, bite-sized shreds using two forks, creating a rustic texture.
- Introduce uncooked rice directly into the simmering broth, letting the grains absorb the rich, layered flavors. Continue cooking until rice achieves a perfect tender consistency.
- Reunite the shredded chicken with the soup, stirring to ensure an even distribution of protein throughout the liquid.
- Brighten the soup’s profile with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, adding a final layer of zesty, herbaceous notes.
- Perform a final taste assessment, adjusting seasonings to achieve a balanced, satisfying flavor profile. Serve piping hot, accompanied by crusty bread or crisp crackers.
Notes
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a vegetarian version of the soup, using plant-based protein like tofu or chickpeas.
- Reduce cooking time for rice to maintain a firmer texture, preventing mushy consistency by adding rice later in the simmering process.
- Use brown rice or quinoa for added nutritional value and a nutty flavor profile, which increases fiber and protein content.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting turmeric and black pepper, or adding red pepper flakes for a subtle heat boost that elevates the overall taste experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg