Cuban Chicken Soup
Made with chicken, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, celery, corn and fidelini noodles, this Cuban Chicken Soup is fully loaded with goodness. Add the chicken, the prepared onion, carrots and celery, garlic cloves, bay leaf, dried oregano, cumin and water to a large pot.
- 2 pounds Chicken (bone in (we used assorted dark meat pieces, drums, thighs, wings))
- 1 Large Onion (peeled, halved or quartered)
- 5-6 Garlic Cloves (peeled and smashed)
- 3 Celery Ribs (divided (2 for the broth and 1 for the soup))
- 3 Carrots (peeled, divided (2 carrots for the broth and 1 for the soup))
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
- 16 cups Water
- 2 tablespoons Chicken Base (like Better than Bouillon® chicken base)
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 pound Pumpkin (cut into 1-2 inch cubes)
- 1 Medium Potato (cut into 1 inch cubes (about ½ lb.))
- 1 Corn Cob (cut into 1 roughly inch rounds)
- 6 ounces Fidelini (Fideo Noodles)
- Salt (to taste)
- Cut 2 carrots and 2 celery ribs into roughly 2-3 inch pieces. Peel and cut the onion in half or quarters. Peel the garlic and smash slightly.
- Add the chicken, the prepared onion, carrots and celery, garlic cloves, bay leaf, dried oregano, cumin and water to a large pot. Make sure the pot is filled at least ¾ of the way, and that the water covers all of the ingredients.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, immediately lower the heat to medium to medium-low; the water should remain at a simmer. Half-cover the pot. Simmer the chicken broth for about 90 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Using a large spoon, wooden spoon or strainer, skim off the foam and grease that rise to surface and discard. Do this the first 15-30 minutes of the cooking time; remember to half cover the pot again.
- Cut the remaining carrot into rounds, half rounds or cubes, and dice the remaining celery, pumpkin, potato, and slice the corn cobs.
- Remove the chicken broth from the heat. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set on a plate or sheet pan to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove all meat from the bones and tear into bite sized pieces. Discard any bones, skin and cartilage. Set the chicken meat aside.
- Strain the broth: Using a large slotted spoon, remove the veggies from the pot and discard. Strain the broth using a fine sieve. Note: I like to strain the broth twice; I strain it into a very large bowl (or two). Then I wash the pot, and strain the broth again while pouring it back into the large pot.
- Fill a large sauce pan with water and set over high heat. When the water comes to a boil add the fidelini noodles and cook to package directions. When theyâre done, drain the water and set the noodles aside until ready to use.
- Place the chicken broth back into a clean, large pot over medium-high heat. When the broth comes to a simmer add 1-2 tablespoons of the chicken base and the turmeric powder to the broth. Stir well until the chicken base dissolves completely.
- Add the sliced carrots, celery, pumpkin, potatoes and corn cobs to the pot, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Bring the soup to a boil, at about medium-high to medium heat. When the soup starts to boil, lower the heat and keep it at a simmer, uncover the pot and stir only occasionally.
- Add the reserved chicken meat and the cooked noodles to the pot; stir to combine all the ingredients well. Cover and cook the soup for another 5-10 minutes until the carrots, potatoes and pumpkin are tender. Taste the soup and add salt, if needed.
- Serve this chicken soup with lots of lemons or limes, and your favorite hot sauce.
Make sure the pot is filled at least ¾ of the way, and that the water covers all of the elements. Once boiling, immediately lower the heat to medium to medium-low; the water should remain at a simmer.
Simmer the chicken broth for about 90 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Using a large spoon, wooden spoon or strainer, skim off the foam and grease that rise to surface and discard.
Do this the first 15-30 minutes of the preparation time; remember to half cover the pot again. Cut the remaining carrot into rounds, half rounds or cubes, and dice the remaining celery, pumpkin, potato, and slice the corn cobs.
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the chicken from the pot and set on a plate or sheet pan to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove all meat from the bones and tear into bite sized pieces. Strain the broth: Using a large slotted spoon, remove the veggies from the pot and discard.
Note: I like to strain the broth twice; I strain it into a very large bowl (or two). Then I wash the pot, and strain the broth again while pouring it back into the large pot.
When the water comes to a boil add the fidelini noodles and cook to package directions. When they’re done, drain the water and set the noodles aside until ready to use.
Place the chicken broth back into a clean, large pot over medium-high heat. When the broth comes to a simmer add 1-2 tablespoons of the chicken base and the turmeric powder to the broth.
Add the sliced carrots, celery, pumpkin, potatoes and corn cobs to the pot, cover and cook for 5-7 minutes. Bring the soup to a boil, at about medium-high to medium heat. When the soup starts to boil, lower the heat and keep it at a simmer, uncover the pot and stir only occasionally.
Add the reserved chicken meat and the cooked noodles to the pot; stir to combine all the components well. Cover and cook the soup for another 5-10 minutes until the carrots, potatoes and pumpkin are tender.
