Chicken noodle soup

All this week I have been feeling lethargic. I don’t know if it’s the endless days of rainy  and cloudy weather or the seasonal allergies taking hold. On top of that, one of my boys has a sinus infection. So last night I was thinking a good Chicken Noodle Soup may just relieve all our ailments.

It is said that Chicken Noodle Soup can slow white blood cells to relieve symptoms of a cold, improves the function of protective cilia in the nasal passages, has healthy nutrients from the vegetables and spices that increase air flow and mucus movement, and increases hydration. I can’t claim to know that these claims are true, but my son woke up feeling much better and I’m my spirits are up today.

This recipe is what I call a basic version of the Chicken Noodle Soup. It includes staples like chicken, angel hair pasta, carrots and spices. However, every country has their own slight variation using corn, celery, yucca, or butternut squash. You may see all or a combination of all these ingredients in the soup. You could add plantains but if you do, is no longer considered a soup. Plantains changes the flavor of the soup so much that It now becomes a “Sancocho”.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless and skinless Chicken Breast

• 2 tbs. of White Vinegar or Lime Juice

• 1 tbs. of Dry Adobo Seasoning

• ½ tbs. of Oregano

• 1/8 tsp. of Turmeric

• 5 cups of Water or Chicken Stock (optional)

• 3 Carrots

• 1 or 2 Stalks of Celery

• 5 tbs. of Sazon seasoning

• 1 tbs. of minced garlic

• 6 Cilantro stems

• 2 Potatoes cubed

• 1 cup of cubed Yucca (optional)

• 1 Angel Hair pasta nest

• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Season the chicken with the white vinegar, adobo, oregano, salt, pepper and turmeric and let marinade for at minimum one hour.

2. In a Dutch-oven or heavy bottom pot, brown chicken (along with marinade) on both sides at medium heat for about 10 minutes. I don’t use oil since the chicken will release some fat. However, if you feel it necessary, a tablespoon should be plenty.

3. Add water or stock and add carrots, celery, sazón, garlic salt, pepper and cilantro to chicken and bring to a boil.

4. Add potatoes and bring back to a boil and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are done.

5. Lastly, drop or crumble the angel hair pasta nest into the soup and cook at low heat until pasta is done.

Serving suggestion:

This soup is great served with good piece of bread, avocado chunks or sprinkled with lime juice.