Chicken Soup or: The Elixir of Life

Ingredients

Soup Ingredients

• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 large spring onions, sliced (greens too)
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
• 2 celery stalks, finely slice
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 450 g mixed frozen vegetables
• 1 can cannellini beans (240 g drained)
• 3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
• 1 cup orzo pasta (you can use freekeh too)
• 1.5 L chicken stock (see below)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2–3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried thyme, oregano, or parsley
• A handful of fresh basil Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Homemade Chicken Stock

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 large carrot, roughly chopped
• 1 celery stalk, roughly sliced
• 2 medium onions, halved
• 3 bay leaves
• 4–5 garlic cloves
• 6–8 cardamom pods
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Black pepper (whole peppercorns or powder)
• 2 L water