Zesty Chicken Soup with Tomatoes and Rice

Mirj's Note:

This is a zesty North African soup. The chicken can be served in the soup or reserved for other uses. If you'd like a leaner soup, omit the oil. Instead of sauteing the onion and chicken, simply add them to the water and continue cooking the soup as below.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large onion , chopped
• 1 ¼ kg chicken pieces (legs, thighs or wings)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 8 cups water
• 250 -300 g ripe tomatoes or 1 (400 g) can tomatoes , diced
• 3 cloves garlic , chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• 2 pale green squash or 2 zucchini , diced
• ½-¾ cup long-grain rice or ½-¾ cup basmati rice
• 1⁄3; cup chopped parsley or 1⁄3; cup coriander
• cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy soup pot or stew pan.
2. Add onion and saute over medium heat until golden.
3. Add chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper and saute 7 minutes.
4. Add water, tomatoes, garlic, paprika and turmeric and and bring to a simmer.
5. Skim foam from surface.
6. Cover and simmer 45 minutes, skimming fat occasionally.
7. Add squash and cook for 10 minutes or until zucchini and chicken are tender.
8. In a separate saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil and add salt.
9. Add rice and cook uncovered over medium-high heat for 15 minutes or until just tender.
10. Drain well.
11. Rinse with cold water if cooking it ahead, and drain well.

Reviews

[Lorac]

When DIL #2 arrived for the holidays with a very bad cold, I cooked her a big pot of your fantastic Chicken Vegetable Soup with Cumin and Dill. A week later, when I started sniffling and sneezing, I was attracted by the tomatoes and seasonings in this soup. What a delicious, soothing and heart warming soup! The only thing I changed was to sub celery for the squash. The paprika and tumeric add a subtle yet enhancing flavor. Thanks Mirjam - you are truly my soup maven !

[Waking Dreamer]

This soup was great. I accidentally added way too much tomato but it still turned out really well. I did change the recipe a little (I am totally incapable of following a recipe as written). I added celery, used acorn squash instead of zucchini, and added some cumin, and chili peppers. Thanks!

[mianbao]

I love this soup! The flavors are just right. I may have added a little bit more garlic, and did add one celery rib. I also took a shortcut by using homemade chicken broth and boneless chicken breast, so instead of cooking the chicken for a long time, I added it nearly last, and cooked the vegetables in stock first. To my surprise, I even found zucchini, which is fairly rare in Tokyo. I used cilantro rather than parsley, though I like both, and am sure either would be good. Thank you for posting this recipe.