Lime in Chicken Soup: Winter Comfort Food

 

Winter is a time where we all crave extra comfort. Whether that’s curling up in a warm blanket with a good book or cooking a delicious, hearty meal. We’re here to help with the latter. It’s definitely soup season here at Lester Senior Living and our chefs love to cook up every type from the classic matzo ball soup to the more intricate lime in chicken. This particular soup is not only delectable, but also freezes well. Meaning, it can be enjoyed again later with minimal preparation effort – perfect for a lazy, snow day. 

Ingredients for Lime in Chicken Soup: 

• 1 whole chicken
• 4 limes cut in half
• 2 large potatoes chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 medium onions chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 carrots chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 4 stalks celery chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 3 small zucchini chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 turnip chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/4 lb of green beans cut in half
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (or more, depending on your preference)
• 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley (or more, depending on your preference)
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 cup of rice 
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon of salt (or more to taste)
• 20 black peppercorns
• 4 allspice berries
• Optional: Tortillas

How to Make Lime in Chicken Soup: 

1. First, chop your potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, zucchini and turnips into approximately ½ inch cubes. Then, cut your green beans in half. 
2. Put the whole chicken and all chopped vegetables in a large pot.
3. Add salt, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice berries, garlic, cilantro and parsley in next. Make sure your cilantro and parsley are chopped beforehand. 
4. Add water to the pots until all the contents are covered, then bring it to a boil.
5. Once boiled, bring down to a gentle simmer and add in the rice.
6. Let it cook for one and half hours at a gentle simmer, adding water as needed to keep everything submerged.
7. After one and a half hours, the chicken should fall apart with the touch of a spoon.
8. Break the rest of the chicken apart in the pot.
9. If you’re feeling extra tedious, you can pick out the bones. 
10. Add in salt and pepper to taste. The longer you cook the soup, the better it is – but at the minimum, it can be served after one and a half hours.
11. Serve with sliced limes and tortillas and enjoy! 

Seniors Dine in Style Everyday at Lester Senior Living in NJ

The residents at Lester Senior Living have the option to eat in our spacious dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day if they’d like! Most of them do, especially since the dining room has been completely renovated. Either way, there is no pressure! The culinary-trained chefs at Lester understand that some residents may have dietary restrictions, kosher preferences or prefer take-out and will gladly accommodate in any way they can. 

For more information about our senior dining services in Morris County, NJ, please give us a call today – we’d love to have you over for lunch! You could also visit our website to learn more about what it’s like to reside at Lester Senior Living: https://jchcorp.org/

*This recipe was inspired by the High Holiday Cookbook.

Original Source: https://jchcorp.org/lime-in-chicken-soup-winter-comfort-food/