Chicken Soup with …..?

Aired on: January 5, 2012, October 26, 2011

This dish is perfect for families who can't all agree on dinner. Rachael gives you four different options to put in the soup so everyone wins!

This recipe was prepared in Rachael's Loft --our new home away from home in the heart of downtown NYC -- click here for more recipes and entertaining tips from Rachael's Loft!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium-size carrots, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked and chopped
1 bay leaf, use fresh if available
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 quarts chicken stock
1 pound chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
Pick one of the following, cooked separately according to package directions:
3 cups cooked popcorn
3 cups cooked rice
3 cups cooked orzo or broken spaghetti
3 cups cooked wide egg noodles
Optional garnishes:
Lime wedges
Hot sauce
Fresh dill, chopped

Yields: 4 to 6

Preparation

Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat with EVOO. Add celery, carrots, onions, thyme and bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2-3 minutes then add chicken stock. Bring to a bubble and cook 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and continue to simmer for 4-5 minutes. Serve immediately or leave on the stove and reheat by bringing back up to a bubble.

To serve, add a portion of the popcorn, rice, pasta or egg noodles into a soup bowl. Ladle some of the hot chicken soup over it and finish it off with your choice of lime juice, hot sauce and/or dill.