Transform ordinary chicken soup with this zesty version, coriander makes all the difference. A great way to use up left over rotisserie chicken.
It’s rainy and the temperatures have dropped slightly which means it’s time for zesty chicken soup. I have a friend who is struggling with Chemo and I’m trying to come up with something that she might like once she gets her appetite back.  Anyone out there who may have some suggestions I would love to hear from you. Sometimes you feel so helpless. Taking food makes me feel like I am helping in some small way. Another great soup option if you’re not feeling great is chicken orzo soup, it’s a great comfort food.
You would think that there’s not much you could do to make chicken soup different, but adding just a little coriander changes this completely. I also added just a pinch of cayenne, but not enough to make it spicy, just interesting.
What is coriander
Coriander is an herb, the leaves and stems are better known as cilantro while the seeds are crushed to make coriander spice. They don’t taste anything alike and can not be substituted for each other. The seeds are used to flavor gin and also pickles. It’s a warm spice combined with cumin in many recipes like Instant Pot chili. For this recipe you will use both the seeds and the leaves. If you are a cilantro hater, leave it out, but don’t leave out the coriander.
How do you make this delicious chicken soup recipe
This recipe is very simple to make with about 15 minutes of preparation and about 30 minutes to cook.
Step 1: Sauté the vegetables in a Dutch oven or large pot until the carrots and celery have softened a little. Add the seasonings and chicken broth and let it simmer for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are soft but not mushy.
Step 2: Add the chicken, corn, lime juice and zest and cilantro and let bring it to a boil and serve.
With the girls back at school I find myself with leftover roasted chicken and this is a perfect way to use up those leftovers. If you want to roast your own chicken breasts, it’s so easy, you can find the directions in my chicken chili recipe.
I added fresh corn which we are still seeing in the grocery. It’s not from North Carolina but it still has some flavor and if you add it at the end, it gives the soup a nice texture. You could serve this over rice if you’re looking for something heartier, but I liked it better just as it is. Simple, but with a pop of flavor from the coriander. It’s like adding a colorful scarf to a black dress, it completely changes the outfit.
What to serve with SOUP
- A delicious yeast roll goes great with soup or chili
- I live in the South, so of course biscuits
- A batch of cornbread would be awesome
- Can’t decide which to make, go with a hybrid of cornbread biscuits
- Try a not yeast soda bread
- Cheesy pull apart bread is another great option
- Have fun and make some yeast knots
If you make Zesty Chicken Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.
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Adapted from The Cozy Apron
Zesty Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 4-5 medium carrots peeled and diced
- 3-4 stalks celery diced small
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
- 1 cup corn
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 lime lime juice
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot. Once hot, add onion, carrots and celery and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add salt and pepper and the rest of the spices and saute for 1-2 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Add chicken stock.
- Bring soup to a rolling simmer and then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes or until vegetables are as tender as you like them.
- Add remaining ingredients and additional salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil and serve.
Nutrition
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Absolutely fabulous spices lead to an amazing flavor. Make it Paleo by excluding the corn. Yum yum!
This was delicious, Barb! The kids loved it, too.
I love it when I find something that everyone likes!