How can I make my chicken soup more flavourful?
In this article, we will answer the question: “How can I make my chicken soup more flavourful?” Here are some tips and tricks to add more flavour to chicken soup along with a step-by-step guide on how to do so.
How can I make my chicken soup more flavourful?
Here are some ways how you can make chicken soup more flavourful. The first being to brown the chicken and vegetables before it is added to the broth. Brown the chicken in olive oil, along with the bones. Remove the seared chicken and replace it with the onions, carrots, and celery.
Cook until the vegetables have caramelised and turned a mushy brown. This releases the natural sweetness in the veggies and enhances the flavour of your soup in a way that boiling them does not.
Deglaze the pan with white wine, then add herbs (like thyme and parsley), return the chicken and cover with a hearty stock. So much of the flavour and depth of chicken soup comes from the stock; don’t compromise on it and use a well-seasoned one.
Remember, high-quality ingredients and a precise cooking procedure will extract more flavour from your chicken soup. Consider putting toasted seeds or nuts into your chicken soup for a touch of sweetness as well as a pleasing textural difference.
One of the most important techniques for making the perfect bowl of chicken soup is to add a tablespoon of something acidic, such as lemon juice, shortly before serving. This livens up any soup.
What do you need to prepare a more flavourful chicken soup?
Here are the ingredients you need to prepare a more flavourful chicken soup.
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 ½ Carrot, peeled and sliced thin
- 2 stalks Celery, sliced thin
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
- 8 cups low-sodium Chicken Stock, plus more if need be
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 tsp fresh Thyme
- ½ tsp dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Pepper, or as per your taste
- 2 cups shredded cooked Chicken (preferably one seared in a skillet)
- 3-4 tbsp Parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- Salt, to taste
A step-by-step guide on how to make chicken soup more flavourful
- Warm the oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the carrots, celery, and onion for about 7 minutes, or until the veggies soften. Stir intermittently.
- Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes after adding the garlic.
- Bring the chicken stock, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, and pepper to a boil. Allow the mixture to gently simmer for 5 minutes, or until the veggies are fork-tender.
Note: If you want a more brothy soup, add up to 64 ounces more stock.
- If the total liquid level is lower than you desire and you need more broth, you may add a cup or two of water at any moment during the cooking process. Just remember to adjust the salt proportionately.
- Add the chicken, parsley, and optional lemon juice (to improve the taste) and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through.
- Remove the bay leaves, taste and make any required seasoning changes (i.e. extra salt, pepper, herbs, etc.). Serve the chicken soup hot.
What are the secrets to make chicken soup more flavourful?
- Brown all the ingredients that will go into the chicken soup
- Add veggies in moderation; the chicken is the star of the soup
- Use a darker meat like chicken thighs or legs for your soup
- Alternatively, you can also use a rotisserie chicken
- A little burst of fresh herbs is necessary to bring out the flavour in chicken soup
- Stick to the classic triumvirate of carrots, celery and onion
- Taste as you go and make sure the soup is well-seasoned but not salty
- Add a dash of lemon juice or vinegar just before serving
What are the mistakes you should avoid while making chicken soup?
- Using store-bought stock that is high in sodium
- Using chicken breast instead of darker cuts of meat
- Choosing dried herbs over fresh herbs
- Skipping the deglaze with wine
- Adding too many different kinds of vegetables that overwhelm the soup
- Forgetting to garnish with fresh herbs and a dash of acidic flavour
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason chicken soup is regarded as the ultimate cold weather comfort food: it not only soothes sore throats and warms you from the inside out but is ideally also flavourful and nourishing.
There are no specific rules when it comes to preparing chicken soup, but these few tried-and-true methods can help make that bowl of nutrition taste much better.
Other FAQs about Chicken that you may be interested in.
What happens if you eat bad chicken?
How long does vacuum-sealed chicken last in the fridge?
Do you have to use chicken broth within 14 days of opening?
Conclusion
In this article, we have answered the question: “How can I make my chicken soup more flavourful?” Above you will have found tips and tricks to add more flavour to chicken soup along with a step-by-step guide on how to do so.
References
https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/cooking-tips/article/effed-it-up-building-flavor-soup
https://www.thespruceeats.com/chicken-soup-tips-and-hints-1809215
