Chicken Soup With Toasted Farro and Greens Recipe (2024)

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Riley A.

Really enjoyed this recipe, perfect for big batches and keeps really well in fridge/ freezer. Lemon zest is listed as optional but without it the soup lacked acidity, so much so that I also added juice from half the zested lemon. Great cold weather meal!

Isabelle

A PHENOMENAL soup that was even approved by my Dad (a master in the kitchen). Changed the following amounts but kept prep the same: - 3 medium carrots- 2 celery stalks- 1 large leek- 3 giant (like, “wait, is this GMO?” large) cloves of garlic- regular sodium chicken brother- Doubled the fennel- Doubled the red pepper flakes- Tripled (maybe quadrupled?) the pepper- Upped the salt to taste- MOST IMPORTANTLY, added a good handful of herb de provenanceEnjoy!

prunefeet

This is DELICIOUS. The only change I made was to use boneless chicken breast because it’s what I had. I would suggest not making this if you don’t want to include the fennel seed and lemon zest. Especially the fennel. It will not taste like fennel or licorice but it adds something magical to the flavor of the broth. I only wish there was more broth. Next to me I will increase quantities of everything except chicken and farro. This is the best thing I’ve eaten in a while, very enthusiastic.

Brooklyn Cook

I doubled the red pepper as someone else suggested and it was too much heat (and I like a lot of heat). Had my own homemade chicken stock on hand, which added to the flavor depth. Used one large chicken breast instead of the thighs, and added juice of half a lemon at the end, along with spinach. Pretty tasty.

Annie

What a lovely stew. COVID cooking meant a used a parsnip for one of the carrots and onion instead of leeks, and it worked fine. I used leftover braised chicken, adding it at the end with the greens and added the braising liquid to bulk up canned stock. My stock was salty, so I didn't add any more. The cooking time for the farro will vary depending on the size of your grains. My farro piccolo cooked in less than 20 minutes, so keep an eye on it. The lemon is not optional, in my opinion.

Emma

Delicious hearty winter soup. I doubled the recipe and added another 4 cup of chicken stock towards the end after adding the kale.I made a big alteration on used chicken apple sausage instead of chicken thighs and put them in before adding the kale. I also added in a zucchini I had on hand that needed to be used.

Jan K.

Enjoyed the soup - a bit spicy (and I love spicy foods) -- I think it's the amount of crushed red pepper. Beware.

fblueher

I just made this soup—-totally followed recipe. It was fantastic and a great foil to watching the super bowl. The fennel is lovely, the farro flavorful, and the greens a vibrant touch. The lemon peel and bit of juice made it pop!!!

Donna M

Really great flavors! I used arborio rice(1/2 cup) instead of farro as I didn't any...diced up some fennel with the veggies and added a good sprinkling of lemon zest when the soup finished cooking. Served with a squeeze of lemon juice and a shower of parmesan and the kids were in heaven!!

Es

Easy and versatile. I loved the crunch of the farro! I used 3 chicken thighs, skin intact, and cut them up for serving. I did not remove the bones. This gives it more flavor. I imagine that to reheat tomorrow the soup will need some water added. Very filling and delicious.

Ross T.

So good! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great, served with some toasted sourdough. I only left out the red pepper due to small kids. The kids liked it as well, so it was definitely a win. The leftovers were great for lunch too. I have some extra chicken so I’m going to make a second batch!

CG

Good! Used ground turkey, add herbs de province, add lemon zest plus juice of whole lemon, needed 2-3cups extra water in addition to stock

Spacebabe

Loved this, made basically as directed although I used rotisserie chicken (added at the end) and giant couscous in place of farro. Was really delicious, will make again but toast and crush the fennel next time for a bit more oomph.

Narcissa

So in true NYTimes commentator tradition I made this recipe and then changed it and will assert it was absolutely delicious. I'd poached a chicken for chicken salad so I took some of the chicken I didn't use and saved it for this meal. I used onions instead of leeks because that's what I had. I forgot the greens entirely. Added chickpeas, maybe tomatoes--thinking it was the other farro soup. Husband adored it. I did too. It's very forgiving you see. Lemon& garlic essential.

Kathy

I made this for dinner last night. Followed the recipe pretty much except where I used what I had on hand (like chicken breast for the thighs). It was hearty and flavorful. If I make it again I may alter how much fennel I use as that was the dominant flavor.

Cathy

This was very flavorful. I made it in the instant pot. I love Swiss chard so I sautéed the swiss chard stems with the celery so as not to waste anything.

KatieM

This was delicious and I loved the taste of the farro. I doubled the soup to have extra for later and the farro became quite mushy. Next time, I would toast and cook the farro separately from the soup to retain its texture, especially if I am planning to have the soup for more than one meal. It does need a bit more spice.

stefsquared

Amazing! One pot, minimal prep, simple ingredients, and somehow perfect. Great texture & flavor. And did I mention just one pot?

CvilleMel

This was terrific. I increased the veggies and stock, plus added a thinly sliced fennel bulb. Excellent!

Laura Ann

I made this mostly according to the recipe and it was very tasty - a nice departure from my standard chicken noodle. Next time, I'm going to amp up the fennel seed profile by using chicken sausage instead of shredded chicken and will use more broth. Sliced fennel bulb and/or potatoes would make a nice addition or substitution too. This soup will be going into my fall/winter rotation.

CC

I've made this at least 10 times now - as directed and with modifications. My toddler gobbles it up and my husband likes it as long as I lessen the fennel. For those that are fennel averse, I found using the recommended amount worked well as long as I didn't crush it before putting it in the pot. If I crush it, my husband finds it overwhelming and won't eat it. If you do crush it, only use half.

Elaine

Made this with a bunch of chard from the farmer’s market. Followed the recipe except cut the red pepper flakes to 1/4 teaspoon and added a lot of black pepper which we like better. To speed up the process we used canned chicken breast from Costco. After reading comments added juice of 1/2 lemon along with the lemon zest to pot after turning off the burner. Soup was delicious!

philly girl

A winner, even though I didn’t have the greens to add. Still very flavorful. Lemon is a must.

Katie

Delicious!

Helen

A great way to make chicken soup, the combination of the fennel and hot pepper is a delightful change. I put in extra garlic and veggies including a couple parsnips that needed to be used. I added extra broth on the second day. Great leftovers.

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Chicken Soup With Toasted Farro and Greens Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a bowl of soup more flavorful? ›

To make a delicious bowl of soup, consider using a flavorful broth, such as chicken or vegetable, along with a variety of fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions. Add proteins like diced chicken or tofu, and season with herbs like thyme and parsley. Don't forget salt and pepper for balance.

Should you brown chicken before making soup? ›

Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces skin-side down and cook for a few minutes until they develop a golden-brown crust. This step adds a delicious caramelized flavor to the chicken and enhances the overall taste of your soup.

Do you cook the chicken before putting it in soup? ›

yes., just boil the chicken in water for an hour or so, with some onion & celery if you have it. That will make a good chicken broth for your soup. If the chicken is boneless, you only need to cook it for half that time.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

Some of our favorites are Dried Shallots, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Dehydrated Green Bell Pepper, Tomato Flakes, Minced Onion and Roasted Garlic Flakes.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

What kind of chicken is best for soup? ›

Be sure to use bone-in chicken here—it enhances the flavor of the broth, and the bones are easy to remove after cooking.

Should I brown onions before adding to soup? ›

While certain vegetables can work just fine added directly to simmering soups and stews (say, carrots and celery), other vegetables (onions, garlic, and the like) will almost always need at least a brief sweat in a fat-based liquid before adding the remaining ingredients.

Does chicken soup taste better the longer you cook it? ›

While broth and stock both get richer and richer the longer you cook them, the problem is that the chicken meat will dry out and get tough if you let it go too long.

Is it better to cook chicken soup covered or uncovered? ›

Simmering and Boiling

In the event that your goal is to keep moisture in—like when your pot of soup, stew, or sauce is already at the right consistency, but you want to keep cooking the vegetables and melding the flavors—leave the lid on to keep any more liquid from evaporating.

Do you put raw noodles in chicken soup? ›

Step 5: Add the Noodles

Stir in 1-1/2 cups dried egg noodles (uncooked). Return the broth to boiling and simmer, covered for about 5 minutes or until the noodles are tender but firm.

Is it OK to cook raw chicken and vegetables together? ›

Yes, if two raw foods touch that will be cooked to the recommended temperature, the foods will be safe.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

What are three qualities of a good soup? ›

A soup's quality is determined by its flavor, appearance and texture. A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another.

What makes soup more tasty? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

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