You might remember a while ago I posted a recipe for classic chicken noodle soup? Well it is a fabulous recipe, and if you have the time you’ll find it here – but if you are pressed for time and just happen to have a whole lot of left-over chicken or turkey staring at you from the fridge (you know how it is “Are you going to just waste me? Throw me out? Come on!”) well then this is the recipe for you! The whole thing takes just half an hour to make, and you are left with a nourishing, warming soup that will make you feel so good. Perfect with a good chunk of ciabbata spread with butter for dunking 🙂
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 brown onion, peeled and diced
1 large or 2 small carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 sick celery, halved lengthwise and sliced (if small, just slice 2 stalks without halving)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp ground cloves
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
100g fine noodles eg vermicelli or angel hair, snapped into 10cm long threads
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, roughly torn
1.2 litres good quality (preferably home-made) chicken stock
2 fresh or 1 dried bay leaves
2 cups left-over chicken, skin removed, shredded
Heat oil and butter in a large pot and cook onion, carrots, celery, garlic, cloves, salt and pepper over a medium/gentle heat for 15-20 minutes until soft but not coloured. Add stock and bay leaves. Bring to the boil, add chicken and noodles and simmer for about 5 minutes until noodles are cooked and chicken is heated through. Serve garnished with parsley and on the side, lightly toasted ciabatta or freshly made cheese scones (that’s ‘biscuits’ to my American friends).
Serves 4