Middle East Chicken Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Remove the meat from the chicken and discard the skin. Chop the meat into large chunks. Cut the chicken carcass into 2 or 3 pieces and put in a large pot with the chicken broth, leek greens, chunked celery, carrot peels, garlic, cilantro stems and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add 6 cups water to cover, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the carcass is falling apart and the broth is flavorful, 20 to 25 minutes. Strain the broth, discarding any solids, and reserve.
• Wipe the pot clean and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped leeks, celery, carrots, zucchini and yellow squash. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the leeks begin to wilt, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the harissa, ras el hanout and tomato paste and stir to coat the vegetables, cooking until the spices darken. Add the broth and chickpeas, cover and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the chopped chicken, cilantro leaves and the spinach. Cook until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Serve with a spoonful of Greek yogurt on top.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pan and gently fry the chopped onions for 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped garlic, turmeric and cumin and continue cooking for a few minutes more.
• Stir in the lentils, add the stock and cook for 35 minutes. Stir several times during cooking, especially towards the end, to prevent lentils from sticking to base of pan.
• Toss in parsley, stir in lemon juice and leave to cook for 2-3 minutes more.
• No blending is necessary unless you want it really smooth.
• Serve with chunks of crusty bread.

Steps:

• Simmer the broth, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, cumin and cayenne (with raw rice, if using), for 10 minutes.
• Add cooked rice (if using), the chicken, and the tomato and simmer 10 more minutes.