Description
Hearty chicken and rice soup promises warmth and nourishment for weary souls. Local ingredients combine perfectly, delivering classic comfort that connects diners with generations of home cooking traditions you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
- 2.5 cups diced cooked chicken
- 1 cup (240 ml) uncooked long-grain white rice, such as jasmine or basmati
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 0.5 tsp dried parsley
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat, then add onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until vegetables soften and become translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Aromatic Layer: Incorporate minced garlic, dried parsley, thyme, and black pepper. Stir briefly to release herb fragrances without burning the garlic.
- Liquid Foundation: Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, add bay leaves, and bring to a vigorous boil. Introduce uncooked rice, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice reaches perfect tenderness.
- Protein Integration: Remove bay leaves, then fold diced cooked chicken into the broth and rice, ensuring even distribution and gentle heating.
- Final Seasoning: Taste and adjust salt and pepper levels to enhance overall flavor profile. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or thyme leaves on top for a vibrant, aromatic finish before serving the comforting soup.
Notes
- Butter Browning Prevention: Melt butter slowly over medium heat to avoid burning, which can create a bitter taste and ruin the soup’s delicate flavor profile.
- Vegetable Softening Technique: Sauté onions, celery, and carrots until they’re translucent and tender, releasing their natural sweetness and creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Herb Infusion Timing: Add dried herbs and garlic briefly to prevent burning, allowing their essential oils to bloom and intensify the soup’s aromatic qualities.
- Rice Absorption Method: Simmer rice covered to ensure even cooking and perfect tenderness, preventing undercooked or mushy texture that can compromise the soup’s overall quality.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg