SOUP: Mama’s Homemade Chicken Soup

SOUP OF THE WEEK: Mama's Homemade Chicken Soup

Every Friday growing up my mother made her famous chicken soup for Shabbos.  I looked forward to it every week. It was and still is one of my favorite things she makes. And it is all made from scratch! This soup is filled with chicken, fresh vegetables and herbs. It truly is good for the soul. I am also convinced that it can cure any cold – It cured mine last week! I hope it warms your heart the way it warms mine at the end of a long week.

Let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

Empire Kosher Chicken Legs, 2-3, bone-in with thighs attached

Carrots, chopped (I use baby carrots since you don’t need to peel them and they result in a smaller chop)

Celery, 5 stalks, diced on an angle

Celery Leaves, chopped

Sweet Potato, 1, sliced and diced

Garlic, 2 large cloves, finely chopped

Mushrooms, 3, chopped

Yellow Onion, 1, diced

Fresh Dill (Dried Dill works just as well), to taste

Sea Salt, to taste

Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

Osem Mini Mandel Croutons (Optional)

Thin Egg Noodles (Optional)

Directions:

  1. Fill your Le Creuset Dutch Oven or a stockpot with water.
  2. Place it on the stove-top and turn on to medium-high heat.
  3. Place the chicken legs in the water.
  4. Allow the water to come to a boil with the chicken legs inside. Fat will rise to the top. Skim this off with a large spoon. It is fine if some of the water comes with it.
  5. Once most of the fat is removed, replace the water you removed with fresh water.
  6. Turn the heat to low and add all of your vegetables.
  7. Allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes.
  8. Add the sea salt, fresh ground pepper and dill.
  9. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
  10. At this point your house should smell amazing! Remove the chicken legs from the soup and shred the chicken off the bone. Once shredded, place the chicken back into the soup.
  11. Heat on low until you are ready to serve!

**Growing up some of my family members would add lokshen, yiddish for noodles, and/or Osem Mini Mandel Croutons. Both are delicious additions to the soup and are highly recommended!