Get Well Chicken Noodle Soup

This is the soup I want when I’m under the weather. The soup is very lightly seasoned with only a little salt and some poultry seasoning, just enough to add some flavor but not bother the palate when I’m not feeling well.

I usually make a batch once every three months or so and freeze it so that I always have some ready to pull out.

[Updated March 3, 2008]

Equipment

8 to 10 quart stock pot with a lid
sharp knife

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces, skin on
6 quarts water
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 carrots, cut into small wedges
1 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
5 or 6 grinds fresh black pepper
poultry seasoning, a pinch or two
1 pound linguine or homemade noodles

Preparation

1. Place chicken pieces in the bottom of the stock pot, thighs on the bottom, then the legs, then the breasts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cover with water. Bring to a boil then reduce to low and simmer until the skin is pulled back and the meat is white.

2. Remove the chicken pieces and place on a cutting board. Skim the foam off the top of the soup. Add the celery, carrots, onion, and poultry seasoning. Cover and simmer.

3. Allow the chicken to cool so that you don’t get burned while handling it. Remove the skin and cut away all the meat. Cut meat into small bite-sized pieces. Add meat back to the soup. Taste the broth about twenty minutes after the chicken has been added. Add salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning to taste. (Note: My boys like the dark meat, so I’ve started putting just the white meat back into the pot and saving the thighs and legs for them to nosh on.)

4. About fifteen to twenty minutes before you are ready to serve, add the noodles to the soup and cook until just past al dente.

Variations

You can use other seasonings instead of poultry seasoning. Marjoram or sage will work well.

Notes

Pour soup leftovers into 24 or 32 ounce containers and freeze.

My toddler and preschooler like this, but managing the broth is still a challenge for their self-feeding skills. So I just ladle up the noodles, meat, and vegetables and drain off much of the broth for them. Cut up the noodles so that it’s easier for the little ones to pick up with utensils (or their fingers if they are still at that stage).