Easy recipe but elevated for lazy people pt 11: Chicken Noodle Soup (Western)
It was a potluck gathering day. Had to whipped up something quick and decent in an hour. I cooked Chicken Noodle Soup (more like Pasta instead of Noodles).
1. Chop up your ingredients (see image 2): 1 carrot, 4 stalks of celery, half a white onion, 5 cloves of garlic, a teeny bit of ginger. Cut ~200g of chicken and 2-3 hot dogs into small pieces too. Portion depending on how many people. Over here im cooking for 5 pax.
2. Boil your pasta on another pot until it is semi-cooked. Can use penne/macaroni/fusili, those short pasta so easier to eat w the soup. Portion also depending on pax.
3. Add a slab of butter into the big pot, let it melt, add all your chopped ingredients (except ginger and hotdogs, to add later). Stirfry slightly until you see the chicken looks cooked on the outside. (over here i agar agar stirfry for 8mins, more of getting flavours out)
4. Add water and leave it to boil. You can add your ginger, hotdogs and semi-cooked pasta. Amount of water should cover your ingredients just nice.
5. Add salt, pepper, thyme (or rosemary or mixed herbs), parmesan cheese. Taste the soup as you go.
6. Let it simmer in low heat until your celery and carrots are soft, i.e. your fork can easily poke through.
That's it. The first time i tried it, it was intimidating cos a lot of ingredients but after awhile, it gets easier cos it's just chop, boil and add seasoning.
My friends got Chicken Pie from Don, some BBQ skewers from a Chinese shop and homemade dumpling lagsana!
The lagsana was a such success i'm gonna steal her recipe. Will share it if I make it some day.
Eat well. Be well. 😇
Making chicken noodle soup doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming, especially if you're pressed for time like I was on a potluck day. What helped me streamline the process was prepping all the vegetables and protein first and using short pasta shapes like penne or macaroni that cook quickly and are easy to eat in soup. An extra tip I found useful is to lightly stir-fry the chicken and vegetables in butter before adding water and seasoning. This step not only softens the veggies but also intensifies the flavors of garlic, onion, and herbs like thyme or rosemary. Adding a touch of parmesan cheese towards the end enhances the soup's richness without overwhelming it. For variety, you can substitute hot dogs with sausage or omit them for a healthier option. The addition of a small amount of ginger gave a subtle warmth that complements the garlic nicely. From my experience, letting the soup simmer gently after all ingredients are added allows the carrots and celery to become tender and the flavors to meld beautifully. This technique results in a comforting broth that's easy to digest and perfect for casual meals or sharing with friends. Finally, this recipe is flexible—you can adjust the seasoning to your taste as you go. It’s a great way to use what you have on hand while still enjoying a delicious homemade soup. Whether you're cooking for a group or just yourself, it's a satisfying dish that can be whipped up in under an hour with minimal fuss.
