Fragrant Chicken Soup with Chickpeas and Vegetables
Updated May 2, 2024
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
- Total Time
- 1 hour
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
½ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 celery stalks, diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 quart chicken broth
1 ¾ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained
½ cup chopped cilantro, more for garnish
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Lemon wedges, for serving
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 to 8 servings)
24 grams carbs; 97 milligrams cholesterol; 300 calories; 5 grams monosaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 11 grams fat; 5 grams fiber; 574 milligrams sodium; 27 grams protein; 7 grams sugar
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
Heat oil in a large soup pot over high heat. Add onion and salt and sauté until limp, 3 minutes. Add all spices and sauté until they release their fragrance, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté another minute, until darkened but not burned. (If tomato paste looks too dark too quickly, lower heat.)
- Step 2
Add celery, turnip and sweet potato and continue to sauté until celery starts to soften, about 10 minutes.
- Step 3
Return heat to high if you lowered it, and add broth to pot. Bring to a simmer, then add chicken. Partially cover pot, lower heat to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Step 4
Add chickpeas and cilantro to pot and continue simmering until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in the lemon juice and more salt if desired, and serve garnished with cilantro and lemon wedges.
Private Notes
Comments
I didn't chop the chicken. I simply removed the skin and fat. I did do a dry rub into the meat before cooking. After the thighs were cooked, I removed the bones.
I added a step I learned from a Nigerian friend. I poured about a 1/2 cup of the chick peas, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cups of the soup - including one chicken thigh - into a blender. I pureed the mixture and added it back to the soup. The puree adds thickness and flavor.
Melissa Clark's mistake turned in to a wonderful, full flavored recipe for the rest of us. I have made this soup over the years for our family, for friends convalescing from illness, to offer to those mourning a loss. Everyone always asks for the recipe.
It is healthy...relatively low calorie, gluten free, high fiber, lower carbs. Enjoy!
This is a favorite recipe of mine- have been making it for years. I started out following it to a "T", and it is wonderful. The recipe is very flexible. I have added at various times: cauliflower, red peppers, diced anchovy (mashed in with the spices), parsnips, red lentils, spinach, kale. You get the idea. The base spices and broth are what pull it together to make a delicious soup/stew.
Excellent soup. I like more broth so I doubled the amount (along with the seasoning, onions and tomato paste to maintain similar flavor profile). Otherwise, no notes. Make this! High flavor reward for not many steps.
this is a very flavourful soup. left out the cilantro and added my chickpeas and 1/2 a cup of brown lentils during step 3 because i like my chickpeas softer. subbed the chicken with cooked shredded rotisserie chicken at the end. also skipped out on turnips because purchasing 1 is impossible and i didn’t have a need for 5 extra, just added extra sweet potato. will maybe try carrots and parsley in the future.
This soup is so hearty and warming! Plus it’s very flexible - no turnip? add extra sweet potato. no chickpeas? just leave out - although it is at its very best when made as directed. I’ve made it many times and it’s now part of my regular meal rotation!