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Hearty Chicken Soup with Mushrooms and Crispy Bacon
A robust chicken soup brimming with tender meat, fragrant mushrooms, and crunchy bacon. Perfect for chilly days and anyone who fancies a comforting, savoury treat.
📖 What is it
A robust chicken soup brimming with tender meat, fragrant mushrooms, and crunchy bacon. Perfect for chilly days and anyone who fancies a comforting, savoury treat.
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 4 chicken legs
- ✓ 2 tbsp oil
- ✓ 2 onions
- ✓ 3 garlic cloves
- ✓ 250 g chestnut mushrooms
- ✓ 2 tbsp tomato purée
- ✓ 150 ml dry white wine
- ✓ 1 litre chicken stock
- ✓ 1 tsp Herbes de Provence
- ✓ Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ✓ 150 g streaky bacon, sliced
📊 Nutritional Information
This hearty chicken soup brings together juicy chicken legs with earthy mushrooms and a crisp bacon topping. The blend of aromatic vegetables, rich stock, and a hint of Herbes de Provence makes for a true comfort dish that’s straightforward to prepare.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Warm the oil in a large, shallow pan over a medium heat. Brown the chicken legs all over until beautifully golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- 2
Peel and finely chop the onions and garlic. Clean the mushrooms and quarter them.
- 3
Add the onions, garlic and mushrooms to the pan and sauté, stirring, until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms have taken on a light golden colour.
- 4
Stir in the tomato purée and deglaze the pan with the white wine. Allow the wine to reduce slightly.
- 5
Pour in the chicken stock and return the browned chicken legs to the pan. Season with salt, pepper and Herbes de Provence.
- 6
Cover the pan and let the soup simmer gently for about 30 minutes, until the meat is tender.
- 7
Remove the chicken legs, shred the meat from the bones and return it to the soup.
- 8
Fry the bacon in a separate pan until crisp and sprinkle it over the soup just before serving.
💡 Tips and Variations
- •
For a richer flavour, swap regular bacon for smoked pancetta and stir in a splash of cream to finish for extra indulgence.
- •
Use a wide, heavy-based casserole to ensure even heat distribution and prevent sticking.
- •
The star of this dish is the hearty poultry flavour paired with the smoky bacon notes.
- •
For a vegetarian twist, replace the chicken legs with smoked tofu chunks and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- •
Alternatively, try mushrooms and white beans for a meat-free yet filling soup.
- •
A secret ingredient like a teaspoon of yeast extract or soy sauce can deepen the umami and round out the flavours.
- •
For a quick vegan version, use smoked tofu, vegetable stock, and crispy tempeh strips as a bacon substitute.
- •
The key to this soup’s success is the slow cooking time, which tenderises the meat and melds the flavours beautifully.
📦 Storage
This soup keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently to keep the chicken moist. You can also freeze it in portions and thaw as needed.
🍷 Pairing
This robust chicken soup pairs wonderfully with a dry Riesling from the Pfalz or Rheinhessen, whose crisp acidity balances the rich flavours. Alternatively, a fruity Grauburgunder complements the mushroom notes nicely. For lovers of Italian wines, a light Pinot Grigio offers an elegant accompaniment.
This hearty chicken soup is a classic comfort dish that shines with simple ingredients and a bit of care. It marries rustic flavours with a balanced seasoning, making it perfect for cosy evenings at home. Do give it a go and share it with your loved ones – it’s sure to become a firm favourite!
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