Packed with hearty vegetables, chicken and wild rice; this chicken soup is filling, nourishing and soothing during the first cold-snap days of the season.
2cups chopped mushrooms about 6-8 medium sized mushrooms like baby portobello
1zucchini chopped
1/2curi squash (about 3 cups chunks)peeled and chopped
3-4cupscooked chickenchopped
8-10cups chicken broth
1/2cupwild rice - or - black Italian rice
1-3teaspoonssaltor however much you think is best
1/2-1teaspoon fresh cracked white pepper or any pepper you have on hand
Instructions
Heat the oil or chicken fat in a large soup pot.
Sautee the onions, celery and garlic until cooked down and starting to caramelize. Stir frequently.
Add the red bell pepper and chopped mushrooms. Continue to stir frequently.
Add the squash, the chicken, and the chicken broth. Cover the pot and bring back to a full simmer.
Add the rice and continue to simmer. Cover the pot, but leave a small vent by offsetting the lid of the pot - so steam can escape. Simmer until the rice is tender - about 20 minutes.
Salt and pepper to taste. I start with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then increase as needed.
Garnish with fresh parsley - optional.
Video
Notes
Useful Tips:
Chop all your vegetables before you start cooking. I like to keep my chopped vegetables in little prep bowls.
You can use any cooked chicken you have - leftovers, even a store-bought rotisserie chicken - or a combination of both.
This soup is great for meal-prep. I often make it just for myself and store it in the fridge or freezer in individual portions. It makes a filling, nourishing lunch on busy weekdays.