You see I am a Virgo by astrological sign. And as such, we are always looking for, deeply searching for that silver lining, the goodness, that light at the end of the tunnel that we so confidently know exists. Actually, we start to decorate the tunnel itself until that “light” manifests. When I created this particular recipe, I was in an emotional, sad, melancholy, and upset state of mind due to a personal disturbance. I brewed up a huge pot of this soup (that lasted for more than a week) which seemingly infused me with a sense of solace. And this particular chicken noodle soup became more soothing by the day. Every time I reheated it, sat by the fireplace and drowned myself deep in thought, as I slurped away, accompanied by prayers and tears, my inner strength, my hopeful nature, my optimistic and idealistic soul edged its way into a known territory where healing had to begin again. I realized that in this familiar, yet still painful process of healing, nourishment is as important as any other external or internal factor, and this recipe is precisely that-medicinal magic for the heart, mind and soul, in a cup.
Similar to my my other soup recipes, this one also utilizes a gradual layering technique, to ensure a depth of flavor and texture. Onions are first sautéed and lightly caramelized before fresh garlic hits the pot. The remaining veggies and ingredients (carrots, celery, sweet red chili peppers, canned green chiles) and a few seasonings is then added and slowly cooked allowing for release of individual flavors to ultimately create a balanced combination of chicken stock goodness. The final touch is really what upgrades this soup from an iconic chicken noodle soup to something even more delicious. To jazz up the flavors, you know, “kick it up a notch”, in the words of Emeril Lagasse, I add freshly chopped dill, parsley and freshly squeezed lemon juice to really seal the deal!
Chicken Noodle Soup 2021
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts *boneless, skinless
- 2 tbsp butter *unsalted
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion *chopped
- 7 cloves garlic *minced, pulsed in chopper
- 4 small celery stalks *sliced, or two large stalks
- 2 carrots *peeled and sliced
- 7 oz green chiles *canned-drained and rinsed
- 2 red chili peppers *hot and sweet, deseeded and minced, pulsed in chopper
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- ¾ tsp Kosher salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 5 cups vegetable stock
- 5 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh dill *chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley *chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice *freshly squeezed
- 12 oz noodles *I used Riccioli pasta
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry chicken breasts. Set aside.
- In a large pot, heat butter + olive oil on medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté for 6-7 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic + red chili peppers and continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes. Now add sliced celery, carrots, chopped green chiles and chicken bouillon cube, mix well and continue to cook on medium low heat for 6-7 minutes. Add Kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes, mix well and cook for 6-7 minutes. Now add bay leaves and chicken breasts, mix to combine and cook until chicken breasts changes color, about 4-5 minutes. Now add vegetable stock and water, stir to combine and bring to a boil. Cover pot, turn heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
- In another large pot, boil water and cook pasta per package instructions (al dente). Drain pasta and set aside.
- Remove chicken breasts, let slightly cool, cut into bite-sized pieces (or shred chicken) and set aside. Remove and discard whole bay leaves and using immersion blender, pulse stock to a smooth consistency and color. Now add cooked pasta and chicken, stir to combine and bring to a boil again. Add freshly chopped dill, parsley and lemon juice and stir to combine.
- Soul-soothing and deeply comforting Chicken Noodle Soup 2021 is now ready to serve. Enjoy! Nosh Farma'aiye.