Cuban Recipe: Sopa de Pollo - Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

Raúl: Every Cuban had a mima who prepared her own special chicken soup.

Jorge: My mother is still making hers -- and it's delicious!

Raúl: This recipe includes yuca and plantains. Take care not to overcook the vegetables or they will completely disintegrate.

Jorge: It's been so cold in Miami this winter, we've been eating a lot of this soup to warm up.

Glenn: And even if it's hot where you are, it's still a great soup.

Briefly sauté green onions, cilantro, and cumin in olive oil. Quickly whisk in the flour, stirring thoroughly to avoid lumps. Immediately add one cup chicken stock, continue to whisk until well blended. Remove from heat. Set this chicken stock/onion/cilantro mixture aside.

Place chicken and remaining chicken stock in a large eight-quart stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the yuca, calabaza, potatoes, and plantain; continue to simmer for about 40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove the chicken thighs from the soup, run under cold water to cool. Skin and de-bone the chicken, breaking it into bite-size pieces. Return the chicken pieces to the simmering broth.

Add the chicken stock/onion/cilantro mixture and the lemon juice to the soup and stir thoroughly.

Continue cooking until the soup is hot and ready to serve. Salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced mild red onion.

Serves 4

3 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 small bunch cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon ground cumin

3 tablespoons white flour

6 cups chicken stock

8 chicken thighs

1 yuca, peeled and cut into one-inch cubes

1 cup calabaza cubed

2 red potatoes, unpeeled cut into chunks

2 plantains, peeled, halved, and sliced into thirds

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste

Sliced red onion

Ingredients