Chicken Soup

Chef Dad's Italian Chicken Soup

Posted: Oct 04, 2015 5:30 PM MSTUpdated: Oct 04, 2015 7:51 PM MST

 

(Source: 3TV)

Borrowed and shareing

INGREDIENTS;
1 Roasted Rotisserie Chicken (fresh "to go" from your grocers' deli)
32 oz. Chicken Stock
3 Cups Water
¼ Cup (4 tbsp.) Butter
1 ½ Cups Celery (diced)
1 ½ Cups Carrots (about 2 large or 3 medium sized, peeled & diced)
1 Onion (diced)
3 Tbsp. Garlic (diced fine)
2 Bay Leaves
Kosher Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper
2 tsp. Oregano Flakes
¾ Cup Dry (uncooked) Orzo* or any tiny Pasta

COOKING;
Remove skin from your roasted chicken then peel away meat from the bird.  When doing so, don't throw away the juices from the bottom of the container.  Pull apart the meat into desired size pieces, pour juices over the top then set aside.

In a large soup pot over medium high heat, melt butter then add celery, carrot, onion & garlic.  Add 2 teaspoons of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper and the oregano flakes then stir well.  Sauté for about 8 minutes until veggies become tender.  Add your chicken stock, water & bay leaves.  Increase heat to high and bring up to a simmer.  Reduce heat to medium then add the pasta and stir frequently, especially in the beginning to avoid your pasta sticking to the bottom of the pot.  Cook until pasta is tender (about 8 minutes).  Remove bay leaves then add your chicken.  Warm the chicken for a minute or so.  Taste for additional salt & pepper, if necessary, and make your adjustments a little at a time then serve immediately.

Cooks Notes: Orzo is very small Italian pasta which is perfect for soups. While the recipe calls for just ¾ cup of it, you can use up to 1 cup as long as you plan to eat the entire batch within an hour simply because that pasta will continue to expand and absorb all of your broth.  You can always use other tiny pastas or 2 cups of cooked white rice instead of the orzo.  If you have some leftovers the next day and the pasta or rice has absorbed most of your broth, simply add more chicken stock and a dash more salt & pepper on your stove when re-heating.  

This recipe makes 8-10 bowls or about 16 cups.