Carrabba's Spicy Sicilian Chicken Soup
I tried three of the available recipes for this Carrabba's chicken soup dish - usually called "Mamma Mandola's Sicillian Chicken Soup" - and was not quite getting the results I wanted. I'm NOT a cook, and live literally thousands of miles away from the nearest Carrabba's restaurant, so I had to improvise a little on the three recipes I found. I am quite happy with the results, though, and it's the closest I've made to this recipe. It is also a big batch, but I figured if I was spending an afternoon making soup, I should have some to freeze. I have used a 20 quart stockpot for this recipe (ideal), and a 16 quart (just barely fits) stockpot. Note: I do not have a local grocery store, so had to substitute some ingredients that you many not have to....but it worked for me. ;-)
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- 3medium sweet onions
- 2 1⁄2medium green peppers
- 10
- 8 -10
- 8
- 10 -12
- 4quarts chicken stock (2 from boxed broth, 2 from concentrate)
- 2
- 1cup of chopped parsley
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- 2lbs ditalini, as needed when serving (or stubby pasta of choice)
DIRECTIONS
- In a large stockpot (16 quart minimum / 20 quart recommended) heat olive oil under fairly low to medium heat.
- "Sweat" onion, celery, green pepper and some salt (to draw off moisture) for perhaps 30 minutes -- this is lower than browning, and makes the veggies somewhat translucent. I covered, and mixed every few minutes to prevent browning.
- Add carrots, garlic, some white pepper and some black pepper, and continue to heat under "sweat" conditions while mixing now and then.
- Add chicken stock, chicken breasts, tomatoes and potatoes -- and of course some more white pepper and black pepper.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours (or use crock pot?).
- Remove chicken and let cool and stand to shred.
- Add chopped parsley and return the shredded chicken to the soup.
- Salt to taste at this point, and add more white and black pepper if your tongue is not twitching a bit when you sample. ;-).
- Simmer while cooking ditalini (or other stubby pasta).
- Serve soup over cooked pasta to taste.
- Note: Like many soups, this may be better made the day before and then served when needed. We will freeze some for ready-made meals and I think it will work out well.