Chicken and rice soup

4

Ingredients

  • 1 (1.6kg) free-range chicken, cut into 8 pieces and patted dry
  • 1 tsp salt plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 30g unsalted butter
  • 2 stalks celery, trimmed, diced
  • 2 medium leeks, light green and white part only, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 10 sprigs flat-leaf parsley plus 3 tbsps finely chopped flat- leaf parsley leaves
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1.5L chicken stock, homemade or low-sodium canned
  • 75g converted long grain rice, cooked according to package instructions

Use imperial measurements

Method

How to make Chicken and rice soup

1) Season the chicken with the one teaspoon of salt and pepper. Heat a large casserole dish over medium heat and melt one tablespoon of the butter. Add the chicken, and saute until well browned, about six to eight minutes on each side. Remove meat from the pan and pour off any fat left in the pan.

2) Lower the heat to medium-low, add the remaining butter. Add the celery, leeks, and carrots, saute for ten minutes.

3) Tie the parsley sprigs, thyme and bay leaf with a piece of kitchen twine and add to the pot along with the chicken and broth. Bring the soup to a boil, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 25 minutes. Remove the chicken and herb bundle. Skim any excess fat from the surface of the soup with a spoon or a ladle.

4) When the chicken is cool enough to handle remove the meat from the bones and cut into 2.5-cm chunks; add the meat to the soup along with the rice. Cook until the meat and rice are heated through.

5) Season the soup with salt and pepper and chopped parsley. Divide the soup among warm bowls and serve.

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