Stock pot
Soup pot
Fine mesh sieve
Chicken Stock:
- 2½ pounds skin on, bone-in chicken whole chicken or cut-up
- 10 cups water or enough to cover the chicken
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 yellow onion peeled and quartered
- 1 head of garlic halved cross-wise
- Salt to taste
Creamy Chicken Soup with Peas:
- 2 teaspoons neutral cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 yellow onion peeled and minced
- 10 ounces baby bella mushrooms trimmed and sliced
- 1 cup pearled couscous
- 6-7 cups prepared chicken stock more as needed
- 10 ounces fresh shelled peas
- ¼ cup heavy cream more or less, to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Prepare the Chicken Stock:
Cover the chicken with water in a large stock pot. Add the onion, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and garlic. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for at least one hour.
Remove the chicken from the stock pot and transfer it to a platter. Once it's cool enough to handle, pick the meat from the bones and shred into bite-sized pieces. Discard the carcass and skin. Reserve the shredded chicken for the soup.
Return the stock to a boil and then reduce heat to medium and cook for 30 minutes until it has reduced. Turn off the heat. Scoop the garlic out of the stock pot and transfer to a bowl. Carefully pop the cloves out of the paper skin and mash them. Set aside.
Start the Creamy Chicken Soup:
Heat the neutral oil and butter in a soup pot over medium heat until frothy. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook, stirring regularly, until the mushrooms begin to brown and soften, about 7-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the reserved mashed garlic and the couscous to the soup pot and cook, stirring regularly until the couscous begins to turn golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 37g | Sodium: 191mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 37mg