Rainy Day Chicken Soup

I love this recipe because it's SO flexible and is a great way to use up whatever veggies you have in your fridge or freezer. What makes this so good is homemade stock or broth - it really adds a ton of flavor! If you made my Simple Herb Roasted Chicken, you can make stock and this soup with your leftovers. I'm always trying to incorporate more low-waste recipes, so I'd love to hear some of your favorites!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 cup onion, chopped

3 celery ribs, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon herb mix (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano)

Sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Salt & pepper

2 cups assorted vegetables (I used frozen peas and okra, red pepper, and threw in some leftover roasted potatoes towards the end of the simmer so they'd still hold their shape)

1 cup cooked rice (optional)

1-2 cups cooked chicken, pulled or chopped

8 cups of chicken stock or broth

Heat olive oil over low-medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add in the chopped carrots, onion, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the minced garlic and herbs, and cook for another minute or two. This helps to bring out the flavors in both!

Add in your frozen veggies or whatever other vegetables you'd like to use. Some successful renditions I've tried before include lima beans and corn, or you could add some ginger, snap peas, more peppers, and scallions to make an Asian version. I ended up adding in some leftover potatoes I had from the roasted chicken dinner, but you could add a cup of rice instead. Stir in vegetables and cook for another minute or two, until frozen veggies are soft.

Next, add in your chicken and cover entire mixture with broth. Bring temperature up to medium heat and let the soup begin to bubble for about 5 minutes. Turn down to low, and simmer for at least 30 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful the soup will become. If you're adding in cooked rice or potatoes, add these in about 15 minutes before serving just to bring up to temperature. Enjoy!