Description
Mom’s Cold-Season Chicken Soup is a light, soothing broth-based soup made with homemade chicken stock and tender sautéed vegetables seasoned with poultry spices and a hint of heat from crushed red pepper. Perfect for cold days, this easy-to-make soup comforts and warms without heavy ingredients, relying on the rich flavors of chicken fat and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 4 cups homemade chicken stock
- Fat from the homemade chicken stock (about 1 Tbsp)
Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces (amount roughly equal to onion)
- 2 celery stalks, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces (amount roughly equal to onion)
Seasonings & Herbs
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves
- 1 Tbsp chopped green onion greens or chives
- 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning (ground sage and thyme)
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or a small pinch of cayenne)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the fat: In a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, warm about 1 tablespoon of chicken fat that has solidified from homemade stock. If insufficient fat is available, supplement with olive oil.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pan and sauté in the fat until the carrots are almost tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add seasonings: While the vegetables cook, stir in the poultry seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This step amplifies the flavors and adds a gentle heat beneficial for cold relief.
- Add the stock and simmer: Pour in the 4 cups of homemade chicken stock and bring the mixture to a low simmer. Cook for approximately 5 to 10 minutes until the carrots are fully cooked but still firm.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve hot with crusty, day-old French bread for dipping and extra comfort.
Notes
- This soup is intentionally made without chicken meat to keep the broth light and clear, preserving its delicate flavor.
- Using homemade chicken stock and fat is key to the soup’s rich taste and traditional authenticity.
- The crushed red pepper or cayenne adds warmth and is traditionally believed to help with colds.
- Ideal for cold weather or when feeling under the weather due to its soothing nature and easy digestibility.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1 cup)
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 456 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
