Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food and it makes for an easy dinner and a natural cold remedy. The steam helps fight sinus symptoms and the nutrients from the broth and the chicken and vegetables help fight infection. The chicken broth has the amino acid cysteine which helps in fighting infection. I found myself making this chicken soup many times this past winter whenever I or my son felt a little under the weather. It is perfect because, when you feel sick you definitely don't have the energy to work hard in the kitchen but you do want something nourishing and delicious.

It is so easy to prepare, all you need is a few chicken quarters, some vegetables and a large pot of water. My favorite chicken soup vegetables are the classic celery, carrot, and parsnip (and a bay leaf). If you the pasta stars as I did in the picture above you basically have a 1 pot meal that's ready in about an hour on the stovetop. There is no need for any powders or chicken soup stock, it is all natural and delicious I promise!

This is also toddler approved - it was the first time I realized how much my son loved carrots. He just couldn't stop eating them. :-)

Easy Chicken Soup

Tools:

1 large pot

cutting board and knife

soup ladle

Ingredients:

2-3 chicken quarters cut up into the thigh and leg (4-6 pieces total)

5 large carrots

1 large onion

1 bay leaf

spices - black pepper, paprika, cumin, curcumin, salt to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 pasta stars or any type of pasta

Directions:

1. Prepare the chicken - mix 1 tablespoon olive oil with the spices - about 1/4 teaspoon of each, to taste. Rub the chicken with the olive oil and spice mixture

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the pot and fry the chicken pieces in the oil for a couple of minutes on each side.

3. Add the vegetables and continue to sauté for a couple more minutes.

4. Add 1.5 liters of boiling water and cover the pot

5. Let simmer for 1-2.5 hours. Then add the pasta stars for an additional 10 minutes before serving

6. Enjoy - labriut! :-)