Name: Italian Chicken Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 110 min
Yield: 9 servings
Ingredients: 1.125 box ditalini pasta very short macaroni type pasta noodles; 1.125 whole cut up fryer chicken; 9 cup low sodium chicken broth; 1.125 whole Onion medium, diced; 2.25 whole green bell peppers diced; 2.25 stalk Celery diced; 2.25 whole fresh jalapenos diced; 1.125 tbsp Olive Oil for sautéing vegetables; 1.125 can whole tomatoes with juice, diced; 2.25 cup Heavy Cream; 0.375 cup extra virgin olive oil; 4.5 tbsp fresh oregano minced; 0 count Salt to taste; 0 count Freshly ground black pepper to taste; 0 count parmesan cheese shavings for serving

Cooking Instructions

1
Cook the pasta
Cook the ditalini pasta in a pot according to the package directions, being careful not to overcook it. Drain and rinse in cold water to cool it down. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and set aside.
Tip: Cook the pasta just to al dente so it stays firm when added to the hot soup.
Cleanup: Rinse the colander right after draining the pasta so starch does not dry on it.
2
Cook and shred the chicken
Place the cut up fryer chicken in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook covered for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the chicken rest in the broth for another 30 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot, shred the meat, and discard the bones. Set the shredded chicken and the cooking broth aside.
Tip: Letting the chicken rest in the hot broth helps it stay moist and easier to shred.
Cleanup: Discard chicken bones and any unwanted skin into a lined trash bag to reduce cleanup later.
3
Prepare the tomatoes
Dice the canned whole tomatoes and return them to their juice. Set aside until you are ready to add them to the soup.
Tip: Use a bowl with high sides to dice the tomatoes so the juice does not splatter.
Cleanup: Rinse the cutting board after chopping the tomatoes to prevent stains.
4
Warm the oregano in olive oil
Heat a small skillet over medium high heat. Add the extra virgin olive oil and the minced fresh oregano. Immediately turn off the heat and stir for about a minute to keep the oregano from burning. Set this mixture aside.
Tip: Heating the oregano in oil releases its aroma and flavor, acting like a quick infused oil.
Cleanup: Let the skillet cool before washing to avoid splashing hot oil.
5
Sauté the vegetables
Either pour the reserved chicken broth into a separate container and reuse the pot, or use a new pot. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, green bell peppers, celery, and jalapenos. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and golden brown.
Tip: If you want a milder soup, remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapenos before dicing.
Cleanup: Wipe up any oil drips around the stove with a damp towel once the vegetables are cooking.
6
Build the soup
Add the reserved chicken broth to the pot with the sautéed vegetables. Stir in the shredded chicken and the diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the cooked pasta, heavy cream, and all of the oregano olive oil mixture. Stir to combine and heat through. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Turn off the heat.
Tip: Add the cream toward the end and avoid boiling the soup hard after it is added to keep the texture smooth.
Cleanup: Skim any excess fat from the surface with a spoon and discard it in a heat safe container.
7
Serve
Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with plenty of parmesan cheese shavings. Serve with crusty Italian bread if you like.
Tip: For extra richness, drizzle a small amount of olive oil over each bowl just before serving.
Cleanup: Allow leftovers to cool slightly before transferring them to airtight containers for refrigeration.

Italian Chicken Soup

Ingredients

Italian Chicken Soup

Cooking Instructions

Cook the pasta

Cook and shred the chicken

Prepare the tomatoes

Warm the oregano in olive oil

Sauté the vegetables

Build the soup

Serve

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