Chicken Soup W Apples And Leeks Recipes

LEEKY CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Trim the tough tops and root ends, of the leeks, cut them, lengthwise, in half, then slice them into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Fill a large bowl or sink with water, add the leeks, and separate the slices to let the grit fall away. Remove the leeks with a skimmer and dry them in a salad spinner or on a clean kitchen towel.
• Put the chicken and bay leaf in a small pan and add water almost to cover. Put the pan over high heat, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and poach the chicken until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks and garlic, season with salt and pepper, to taste, then stir, cover, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the wine and cook out for 1 minute, then add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and dice, then stir it into the stock. Strain the poaching liquid and add it to the soup. Add the egg pasta, thyme, and lemon zest. Cook at a low boil until the pasta is tender. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle the soup into serving bowls.
• Spread the crusty bread slices with soft cheese and serve with the soup.

COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP (SCOTTISH CHICKEN AND LEEK SOUP)

Steps:

• Season chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Set chicken aside while prepping the other ingredients.
• Put leek greens, carrot peels, celery leaves, garlic, parsley stems, thyme, bay leaf and star anise at bottom of a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the peppercorns, and pour in 8 cups cold water, or enough to just submerge the chicken.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer and partly cover the pot. Cook until chicken is cooked through and very tender, 45 to 55 minutes.
• While the chicken cooks, thickly slice 3 of the leek whites into 1/2-inch coins. Thinly slice the remaining leek white; set thinly and thickly sliced leeks aside separately.
• When the chicken is tender, using tongs, transfer to a large bowl or plate to cool. Strain the broth into a large bowl, discarding vegetables and herbs.
• Wipe out the Dutch oven and return it to medium-high heat. Add butter, letting it melt. Add the thick leek coins (save the thinly sliced leek for garnish), a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer leek whites to a bowl (they can go on top of the chicken if there's room).
• Pour broth back into the pot. Bring broth to a brisk simmer, and stir in barley, carrots and celery. Let broth simmer uncovered until the liquid is reduced by a third, and the barley and vegetables are tender, 40 to 50 minutes.
• While the broth is simmering, use a fork or your fingers to shred chicken into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones.
• Once the barley and vegetables are tender, stir in shredded chicken, sautéed leek whites and the prunes, and simmer for another 5 minutes to allow the prunes to soften (some might disintegrate). Taste and add salt, if needed. To serve, garnish with thinly sliced leek whites and parsley leaves.

CHICKEN SOUP W/ APPLES AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Melt the butter over medium heat in a saute pan just large enough to hold the chicken.
• Add the chicken, skin side down, and cook for about eight minutes over medium heat.
• If the butter in the pan starts to brown, lower the heat slightly.
• Turn the chicken and light saute in the same way for five minutes more.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and place it in a bowl.
• If the butter in the saute pan has burned, pour it out and replace it with two tablespoons fresh butter.
• Add the leeks and cook them for 10 minutes over medium heat.
• Stir the leeks every couple of minutes.
• They should be soft but not brown.
• Put the chicken back in the pan with the leeks.
• Add the apples, apple juice, vinegar and broth.
• Bring the liquids to a slow simmer and with a ladle skim off any fat or froth that floats to the top.
• Cover the pot and simmer the chicken very gently for 10-15 minutes , until it is completely cooked.
• Remove the chicken and let it cool.
• Remove and discard the skin and pull the meat away from the bones.
• Cut the meat into half inch chunks.
• Use a ladle to skim off any fat that has formed on the surface of the liquid in a saute pan.
• Add the Calvados and the heavy cream.
• Bring to a simmer and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Heat the chunks of chicken in the soup for two minutes and serve immediately in hot bowls.
• Suggestions and variations: Try adding a cup of sliced mushrooms along with the apples.
• The mushroom flavor goes well with the other ingredients, and the mushrooms make the soup more substantial.
• This soup is also delicious with curry, which can be added by gently cooking a tb of curry powder in a tb of butter and stirring it into the soup shortly before serving.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH LEEKS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Combine the stock and leeks, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 20 minutes. Add the rice or bulgur, and continue to simmer until the grain is cooked through, 15 to 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
• Beat together the eggs and lemon juice until frothy in a medium bowl.
• Just before serving, making sure that the broth isn't boiling, gradually add 2 cups to the egg and lemon mixture while beating vigorously with a whisk to prevent the eggs from curdling. Turn off the heat under the soup, pour the egg-lemon mixture into the soup, stir well and serve, adding a bit of pepper to each bowl and garnishing with chopped fresh parsley or dill.