Pic Credit: jamaicanfoodsandrecipes
Do you want to feel better when you’re sick or cold? What a great soup—tasty and made of chicken. It’s simple to prepare and contains many nutrients, such as vegetables, spices, and chicken.
The accompanying soup is nevertheless special because it contains certain spices that I believe will make tongues happy. And the best part? It’s easy to make! It is easier to prepare in a large pot if you wish to feed your family and your friends.
In the guide below you will find detailed instructions on how to make a recipe for this dish. We will inform you what ingredients you should use, how to chop them, and how to cook the soup. Let’s start!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken (preferably bone-in for flavor)
- 2 liters water
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 1 teaspoon thyme (dried or fresh)
- 2 teaspoons salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (whole for mild heat)
- 2 stalks green onions (scallions), chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Optional: 1 cup dumplings (made from flour and water)
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Chicken Selection: Select chicken which is fresh and of the best quality since that will produce the best results. I think pieces with bones including thighs or drumettes are recommended because they make the broth more flavorful. If using frozen pieces of chicken make sure that these are thawed properly first.
- Vegetable Preparation: All vegetables should always be washed properly and under clean water which is filtered to eliminate any dirt or any form of pesticide. When chopping, try to make the sizes small, equal and standardized to allow even cooking. For example, while slicing carrots into rounds, potatoes should also be chopped into cubes that are of similar size.
- Spice Control: The Scotch bonnet pepper are used in Jamaican chicken soup which is famous for its spiciness. If you do not like too spicy a touch, you might decide to leave the pepper whole and add to the soup during cooking: this way the broth will be fit with pepper taste but it won’t be too hot. Don’t add more seasonings before first, you should try the food.
- Cooking Time: Give enough cooking time to the soup so that it of high flavors and melt the chicken tender muscles. One hour is considered sufficient in order to enjoy a perfect taste as well as texture.
Jamaican Chicken Soup Recipe
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Chicken: Using bone-in chicken will deepen the flavour of the stock quite considerably. If you want, you can use the skinless pieces but save some bones for depth of flavor in the dish.
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Scotch Bonnet Pepper: This pepper is a local part of Jamaican food and it gives the soup a specific kind of heat. It is delicate and it is preciate to wear gloves while handling the procedure because the oils may cause irritation.
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Fresh Herbs: It is recommended that fresh thyme should be used rather than the dried one for much better taste of the soup. Its flavors are organoleptically more appealing due to the use of fresh herbs rather than dehydrated ones used in the instant paste.
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Vegetables: You can use whichever vegetables are in season or any that you prefer at any given time. And the idea is to use some kind of greens or some kind of vegetable that will add color and also nutrition, such as bell peppers, celery, even spinach.
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Dumplings: Staple Jamaican dumplings complement the soup dish and are used in the traditional way. These are also made with flour and water and are rubbed into small pellets and can be dropped into the soup 15 mins before the soup is ready.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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Prepare the Chicken: Start by washing your chicken pieces under clean cold water and then proceeding to blot the portions of the chicken with paper. I do this to make sure the surface is clean and also to get the best angle to secure the rubber later on.
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Sauté Aromatics: Place them in a large pot or in a Dutch oven; heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium fire. Put 2 onions, chopped and 3 cloves of garlic, minced to the pot. Chop it until become fragrant and translucent, it takes about 3-5 minutes.
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Add Chicken: After this, you would put the chicken pieces and stir the mixture with the cooked aromatics together with sautéed onions and garlic. Turn gently to let each piece be coated with the mixture and let it turn slightly brown for 5-7 minutes.
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Pour in Water: Slowly add 2 liters of the water in it so that all the pieces of chicken are floating on it. This will form the base of your broth Sitr the garlic, onion, ginger and leeks for a few minutes until they soften.
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Seasoning: Pour in 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 2 teaspoons of salt depending on your choice, 1 teaspoon black ground pepper and 1-Hot Scotch bonnet pepper. After adding a liquid to a mixture of solid and liquid foods, stir gently to mix everything.
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Simmer: Place your mixture to boiling point on high heat. After boiling turn down the heat and place the lid on the pot. Let it cook on low flame for almost 30minutes or until the chicken is done.
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Add Vegetables: After half an hour to an-hour simmering time, put in 2 sliced carrots,2 diced potatoes, 1 cup corn whether fresh corns or frozen corn and 2 chopped green onions into the pot.
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Continue Cooking: After 20 minutes or until all vegetables are cooked through yet not soft, mix all the ingredients together and let it boil gently for another 20 minutes.
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Final Touches: Test the soup for salt and pepper before serving; add more of any as you feel best. It is advisable to take out the Scotch bonnet pepper before eating if you do not want it very Hot.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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For Extra Flavor: Think about squeezing some fresh lime juice into your soup right before you serve it. This brings a bright flavor that goes well with the spices.
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To Make It Smooth: If you want your soup creamier, use a hand blender to mix part of it after cooking. Leave some chunks whole to give it different textures.
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For Vegetarians: You can make this dish without meat by using chickpeas or tofu instead of chicken. Also, use vegetable broth in place of water to give it more taste.
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Try Different Herbs: Play around with herbs like parsley or dill. These can give your Jamaican chicken soup new and interesting flavors.
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Tips for Freezing: If you plan to freeze leftover soup, it's best to keep any dumplings out of it. They might get soggy when you heat the soup up again. Store the dumplings in a separate container instead.
EQUIPMENT
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Large pot or Dutch oven
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Cutting board
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Sharp knife
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Measuring cups and spoons
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Ladle
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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Serve hot with crusty bread or rice on the side for a complete meal.
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Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro for added color and flavor.
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Offer lime wedges on the side for guests who enjoy a citrusy kick.
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For an authentic touch, serve in traditional Jamaican bowls if available.
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Pair with a refreshing drink like ginger beer or coconut water.
If you're looking for a quick and flavorful meal, check out this easy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs with Gnocchi recipe.
