Chicken soup for the soul

Here’s our tried and true family recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup, one of our favourites. This past Sunday night, when it was cold and wet outside, this brew—served with some crusty, chewy bread—hit the spot. It’s one of those stand-your-fork-up-in-it types, probably more stew than soup, but when it’s cold on the outside, this stuff is good for the soul.

It must be said, we do have a rather troubling difference of opinion on ingredients. Ali would prefer the purist version: chicken, noodles and soup (read chicken stock). No green or orange additives allowed! Simon, on the other hand, reckons it’s just not right without some good ol’ fashioned vegies thrown in, just like Grandma used to make. So, delete or add at will. Either way, enjoy!

This is how you do it.

Season and roast a good size whole chicken in the oven, then let it stand on the top of the stove to cool and rest.

Grab a boiler or large saucepan and melt in it a good tablespoon of butter (give the margarine a miss).

Throw in a couple of roughly diced onions, some crushed garlic, and a rasher of bacon cut into small pieces. No need to cook it too much, just enjoy the aroma until the onions sweat.

If you dare (and the kids aren’t looking), add in two or three carrots, a leek or two, and a couple of sticks of celery, all roughly diced as small as you like them.

Pour in enough chicken stock (homemade or the ready-made cartons from the supermarket .. but don’t go near that powdered stuff) to cover it all well, bring to a gentle boil and simmer away for 15 minutes or so.

Throw in a handful of uncooked pasta (spaghetti works well, as long as you break it down in shorter stands) and a diced potato if it sounds good. Simmer for another ten minutes or until the pasta is done.

Pull your chicken apart, set the skin aside, strip the meat from the bones and break it up into pieces. Good size chunks work best. Don’t do the small-dice thing. There’s nothing better than looking into your bowl of steaming soup to see great mouthfuls of tender chicken just begging to be eaten.

Season to taste and serve with good dose of fresh coriander (or parsley if your prefer) and some bread that’s worth eating.

This really has to be served in front of the telly, all on the one couch, blankets provided, while you watch the footy replay or the latest Funniest Home Videos.

You can’t do better!