Chicken Noodle Soup – Family Meals On A Budget

For our next winter family meal on a budget it is over to my wonderfully talented foodie friend Jodie from the Fresh Home Cook for her amazing version of one of my faves Chicken Noodle Soup….  Take it away Jodie!

Prep Time:30 Min Cook Time:1 Hr 30 Min Total Time:2 Hr

Serves 8

Ingredients

POACHED CHICKEN

• 1 whole chicken (free range if you can get it)
• 1 onion roughly chopped
• 1 carrot, thickly sliced
• 1 – 2 celery stalks, roughly sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 parsley stalks
• 2 tablespoons of dried thyme
• 4 cups chicken stock or water

SOUP

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 corn cobs, kernels sliced off
• 1 carrot, evenly diced
• 1 stalk celery, evenly diced
• 2 cups silverbeet, roughly chopped
• 1 packet vermicelli rice noodles
• 1 red chilli, seeded & finely chopped to garnish – (optional)

Instructions

FIRST – POACHING THE CHICKEN;

In a large, thick bottom pot, add the whole chicken, carrot, celery, bay leaves and parsley stalks.

Cover with chicken stock and bring to the boil over high heat.

Reduce heat to medium-high / medium heat and slow boil the chicken until meat starts to pull away from the bone – about 1 to 1.5 hours.

Remove the chicken from the liquid & set aside to cool.

Using a small holed sieve, or cheesecloth, strain off the chicken water into a large bowl & set aside.

THEN, MAKING THE SOUP;

Once chicken has cooled to a touchable temperature, remove skin & shred the meat. Dispose of skin & bones.

In a large pot, over medium high heat, add oil, then saute garlic until slightly softened.

Reduce heat to medium, add carrot, celery and corn & saute gently until slightly softened.

Add shredded chicken and left over chicken liquid back to the pot & bring back to the boil.

Gently add the noodles, allowing them to soften & mix into the soup – (about 5 minutes maximum).

Serve with freshly chopped chill – (optional)

 

Notes

• This soup freezes well for up to about 3 months.
• You could make this soup with a store bought barbecue chicken if you are short on time, but making it from scratch like this enhances the flavour incredibly & the chicken meat just melts in your mouth.

Thanks Jodie!  Make sure you pop by her site Fresh Home Cook, for more amazing recipe ideas!  Or click here to see her second winter family meal on a budget, a delicious ‘Sneaky Vegetable Pasta Sauce’ – yum!!!!

To see our other amazing winter family meals on a budget:

Click here to see our Roasted sausages and vegetables with Bel from Mums Take Five

Click here to see our Veggie Super Food Bowl with  Hope from Nanny Shecando

Click here to see our Chicken Pot Pie with Sheridan from Sheridan Anne

Click here to see our Pumpkin Soup with me!!!

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