Sopa de Pollo (Chicken Soup)

Ingredients

• For the Broth:
• 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces) or 4 bone-in chicken thighs 🍗
• 10 cups water 💧
• 1 large onion, quartered 🧅
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed 🧄
• 2 carrots, chopped 🥕
• 2 celery stalks, chopped 🌿
• 1 bay leaf 🍃
• 1 tbsp salt 🧂
• 0.5 tsp whole black peppercorns ⚫
• 0.5 tsp cumin 🌿
• 0.5 tsp oregano 🌱
• 0.25 tsp turmeric (Don Luis’s special touch for color and depth) ✨
• For the Soup:
• 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 2 additional carrots, sliced into rounds 🥕
• 2 celery stalks, chopped 🌿
• 1 large potato, cubed 🥔
• 0.5 cup calabaza (butternut squash or pumpkin), diced (optional) 🎃
• 1 corn on the cob, cut into 2-inch pieces 🌽
• 0.5 cup rice or small pasta (like fideos or orzo) 🍚
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
• 0.5 tsp ground cumin 🌿
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️🔥
• 0.25 tsp black pepper 🧂
• 0.5 cup chopped cilantro (plus extra for garnish) 🌿
• Juice of 1 lime 🍋
• For Serving:
• Lime wedges 🍋
• Avocado slices 🥑
• Warm corn tortillas 🌮

Instructions

1. 11️⃣ Prepare the Chicken Broth 🍗🔥
2. 2In a large pot, add the chicken 🍗, water 💧, onion 🧅, garlic 🧄, carrots 🥕, celery 🌿, bay leaf 🍃, salt 🧂, peppercorns ⚫, cumin 🌿, oregano 🌱, and turmeric ✨.
3. 3Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 45-60 minutes, skimming any impurities that rise to the surface.
4. 4Remove the chicken 🍗 and set it aside to cool. Strain the broth, discarding the solids, and return the clear broth to the pot.
5. 52️⃣ Build the Soup 🍲
6. 6In the same pot, heat olive oil 🫒 over medium heat. Sauté the sliced carrots 🥕 and celery 🌿 for about 3 minutes until slightly softened.
7. 7Stir in the tomato paste 🍅, cumin 🌿, smoked paprika 🌶️, and black pepper 🧂. Cook for 1-2 minutes to enhance the flavors.
8. 8Add the reserved broth, potatoes 🥔, calabaza 🎃, and corn pieces 🌽. Bring to a gentle boil.
9. 9Stir in the rice 🍚 (or pasta) and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables and rice are tender.
10. 103️⃣ Shred & Finish 🔥
11. 11While the soup is simmering, shred the cooled chicken 🍗 and add it back into the pot.
12. 12Stir in the chopped cilantro 🌿 and lime juice 🍋.
13. 13Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
14. 144️⃣ Serve & Enjoy! 🍽️
15. 15Ladle the Sopa de Pollo into bowls, garnishing with fresh cilantro 🌿, lime wedges 🍋, and avocado slices 🥑.
16. 16Serve with warm corn tortillas 🌮 for a true Don Luis experience!