Whats ur secret to AWESOME chicken soup?

Executive Member Joined: Aug 23 2009 Posts: 398

New Kallah;
Anything I cut off when cleaning the chicken is what I consider "yucky"--extra bones and fatty stuff. Anything that comes in the package that we don't eat, basically.
YESHA, that's such a good idea about soda bottles! I love it. I freeze it in cheapish containers, like the kind you get if you buy prepared salads from a store. I also never use them for anything else, because I feel like they're still a little chickeny even after repeated washings. But soda bottles would do the trick Smile

Do I pick out the "big stuff"--that depends on how squeamish I'm feeling at the moment. Sometimes I take out what is salvageable (just chicken, not onions), sometimes I dont (shame on me)

The defrost method is different every time! I let it sit out, I quicken it up by melting it in the pot, and if in desperation, I microwave it.

and as for undomesticated...I can't make hard-boiled eggs. no joke.

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13203

Hard boiled eggs. Put eggs in pot, water to cover. Bring to rolling boil. Cover pot, let sit 14 minutes. (Unless you're making seder eggs, then let them gently boil a bit longer.)

For my family, they like it simpler better. We do it the way my mom and bubbie always did it -- I just add more chicken.

Chicken (use the dark meat and necks and wings from regular chicken that we don't eat)
large carrots (lots)
a bunch of celery
3-4 onions
salt to taste
parsley

Cook forever. If I have it around, I'll put the onions and chicken in a cheesecloth so they're easier to take out, but I don't always. I always take the chicken out and cut it off the bone and then put it back in my strained (through a small mesh colander) soup.

I have tried adding different veggies and my kids or dh objected. I like it clear and store it in deli containers, so my small colander fits over the top of the deli container. and I just pour it in that way over the carrots and chicken (which I put back in).

My sister always adds a bouillon cube and uses fewer onions. She also almost always puts in noodles. I like her soup, but not as much as mine Smile

.

Senior Member Joined: Jun 13 2006 Posts: 138

I put in 1 turkey neck and 1 chicken bone, lots of veggies and pasternak- not parsnip. I found that it adds more flavor.
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Executive Member Joined: Aug 23 2009 Posts: 398

thanks for the hard boiled eggs instructions fayge Smile

I'll save that one
I've tried all the methods...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't...I just daven Wink

my mil says she can't make toast to save her life, so it's this sweet little bonding thing we have.

Active Poster Joined: Aug 05 2009 Posts: 25

so many good ideas!
the only thing I can add: enough salt!

3 chicken bottoms
3 large carrots
med. onion
knob celery
turnip
kohlrabi
parsley
zucchini
right amount of salt
sometimes sweet potato

I cook it on a low flame for about 2 1/2-3 hours and again before the zman when its warming up and leave it on the covered fire on Fri night. DH says its the best around. Of course, we always say "L'kavod Shabbos Kodesh" while cooking.

MIL uses chicken feet and her soup is amazing, however, as of yet I cannot bring myself to use it in the soup.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 09 2006 Posts: 1940

I can't believe how much everyone has to say about chicken soup.
The funny thing is, people were saying how the bones and skin make it taste better.
Well, we'll see about that. I just bought a bunch of skinless, boneless chicken thights because I hate dealing with the mess and the separating the meat and DH and son picking at the bones. I plan to try it tomorrow.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 23 2008 Posts: 9074

Maybe repetitious, but....

bones & necks
Carrots
1 whole LARGE onion
celery
GARLIC (2 cloves for a big pot)

Boil/simmer a looooooooooooooong time. Then I season. The garlic makes a huge difference. I put everything in those net thingies & just fish it out & toss.

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18318

BTW, my husband was told by the Star-K that if you are worried about bugs in herbs, etc you can just put everything in a stocking and remove it later.
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