Description
Comforting chicken and rice soup wraps warm culinary memories into one delightful bowl. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering nourishing goodness that hugs your soul with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Main Cooking Components:
- 8 cups (2 liters) chicken broth
- 1 cup uncooked white or brown rice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 0.5 lemon, juice
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Create a flavor foundation by gently sautéing diced onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until they become translucent and aromatic, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Introduce minced garlic, thyme, and parsley to the vegetable medley, stirring quickly to prevent burning and to infuse the base with herbaceous undertones.
- Pour chicken broth into the pot, allowing the liquid to reach a gentle boil while incorporating uncooked rice and a fragrant bay leaf.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer, covering the pot to encourage the rice to absorb the flavorful broth and soften gradually, which typically takes 20-35 minutes depending on rice variety.
- Incorporate tender, shredded chicken into the simmering soup, letting the meat warm through and meld with the other ingredients.
- Carefully remove the bay leaf and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, ensuring a balanced and robust flavor profile.
- Brighten the soup with a splash of fresh lemon juice, which will add a subtle citrusy complexity and lift the overall taste.
- Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls, garnishing with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color and additional fresh herb essence.
- Serve immediately alongside crusty, rustic bread to complement the hearty and comforting soup.
Notes
- Sauté vegetables gently to release their natural sweetness and prevent burning, which enhances the soup’s overall flavor profile.
- Choose bone-in chicken breasts or thighs for more intense chicken flavor, as they provide richer meat when shredded.
- Keep leftover soup refrigerated and consume within 3-4 days, as rice tends to absorb liquid and become softer over time.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure chicken broth is certified gluten-free and use wild rice or quinoa instead of traditional white rice.
- Boost protein by adding a handful of cooked white beans or lentils during the final simmering stage.
- Transform the soup into a creamy variation by stirring in a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk just before serving.
- Elevate nutrition by incorporating additional vegetables like diced zucchini, spinach, or kale near the end of cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg