Friday, October 11, 2013

Chicken Soup - Or is it Bean Soup?

I have made chicken soup many times in my life, but this time, I was craving some white beans, so I decided to combine them.

Making soup is perhaps one of the easiest tasks in the kitchen.  I usually don't bother with the fancy mincing and sauteing and deglazing techniques, as seen on the cooking shows, but simply put all ingredients in a pot and let them simmer together.  I did a version of that with this soup, as follows:




Ingredients: 
1 full chicken, cut in quarters, skin removed
1 or 2 large onions, sliced
6 cloves garlic, squashed to bring out flavor
1 large tomato, cut in pieces
1 or 2 large carrots, cleaned and sliced
1 rib celery, sliced (optional)
3-4 qts pure water, or chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 pack fresh baby spinach
2 cans cannelloni beans
Green/red peppers, sliced (optional)
1 or 2 large potatoes (optional)

Preparation:
Salt and pepper chicken on both sides, then place the chicken, sliced onions, chopped or "smashed" garlic cloves, cut tomato in large pot with 3-4 quarts of pure water or chicken broth.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat, and simmer at least 1 hour, until chicken is cooked.  While continuing to cook, add the 2 cans of cannelloni beans, and the bag of baby spinach.  Continue to simmer for 15-20 minutes, and serve. 

This soup is many variations available, including adding potatoes (these wound be added at the beginning, to cook with the chicken), and any number of other vegetables, to taste.  Regardless, the flavor is absolutely delicious!

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