I heard the flu is going around, so this post is dedicated to all those who are sick in bed! This chicken noodle soup, just like mom makes, is sure to warm your heart. The recipe makes quite a lot, so you can count on leftovers that will last you through the cold season.
- 12 cups water
- 2 cubes chicken bouillon
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
- 5 stalks celery, chopped
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 3 slices fresh ginger, peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon basil
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
Dissolve bouillon in 6 cups of water over medium heat in a large pot. Add chicken breast with onion and parsley. Allow to simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 12 minutes. Remove chicken, and set aside to cool.Add remaining 6 cups of water with celery, carrots, and chicken broth. Add noodles. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer until noodles are tender.Meanwhile, dice chicken and sauté with garlic and ginger until fragrant, and chicken is slightly browned, about 4 minutes. Remove garlic and ginger, and then return chicken to soup. Season with black pepper, basil, and oregano. Add salt as needed. Serve with saltine crackers!
Tips...
This recipe includes two of my least favorite ingredients: celery and parsley. They are my least favorite because they can only be purchased in large quantities. I can't put 15 stalks of celery in one soup, and really, what am I going to do with a bunch of parsley, when I only need a few sprigs? Yet, this soup hits the spot, and it is perfect for a cold fall day.Some suggestions for the bulky produce: find another recipe for soup as they are both good for flavor, or make another batch of this soup and freeze it for later. Celery sticks with peanut butter is a good snack, and parsley is a nice garnish for almost any dish.You also don't have to sauté the chicken with the garlic and ginger. They add nice flavor to the chicken, but if you don't have them on hand, they aren't necessary. You also can eliminate the chicken broth and substitute with additional water and an extra cube of bouillon. Bouillon is dehydrated broth, and can be found in the same aisle as canned chicken broth. They come in packs of 6 or 8 and are usually less than a dollar, and since water is free, it might be a good deal!