Chicken And Noodles

This soup is a typical first course in Spanish households, regardless of the region. You are sure to be served a chicken soup with either noodles or rice if you visit a Spanish family for any length of time. Spanish love soups and seem to eat them whether it is winter or summer. This soup is perfect for those cold winter evenings when you need something to warm you from the inside out. Luckily, it is an easy soup to make.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 2 Carrots, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 yellow onions, chopped
• 3 Tbsp virgin olive oil
• 2 chicken backs
• 6 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/5 lb angel hair pasta
• salt to taste

Preparation:

Peel and coarsely chop vegetables. Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 tbsp olive oil and sauté the vegetables for 2 minutes stirring constantly.

Add the chicken backs to the pan. Brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes. Add water and 2 bay leaves. Simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours. Salt to taste. Chicken will be soft and practically falling off the bones.

Bring soup to a fast boil. Break dry noodles in half and add noodles to soup. Cook until noodles are done. Serve while hot.

Want to Speed up the Cooking Time?

The Spanish commonly use pressure cookers to speed up the cooking time of soups, stews and bean casseroles. Used according to simple directions, they are safe and can save you lots of time.

Spanish Rice Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (can use up to 1/4 cup)
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 cups of medium or long-grain white rice
• 3 cups* chicken stock (or vegetable stock if vegetarian)
• 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste or 1 cup of diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained
• Pinch of oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• *Check the instructions on the rice package for the proportions of liquid to rice. They can range from 1:1 to 2:1. If your rice calls for 2 cups of water for every cup of rice, then for this recipe, use 4 cups of stock for 2 cups of rice.

METHOD

1. In a large skillet brown rice in olive oil, medium/high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook onion rice mixture, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes, or until onions are softened.
2. In a separate sauce pan bring stock to a simmer. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt. Add rice to broth. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Lower heat and cook 15-25 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package. Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6.

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