Classic Cuban Chicken Soup Recipe

I'm sick. And so's Eric. *cough, sniff*

We've got feverish-coughing-sneezing-and-hacking colds.  

*hack, sniff, achoo!*

A good, old-fashioned snotty-stuffy-headed cold. And there are certain things one does when one is Cuban (or happens to live with a Cuban) and has a cold. My friend, Chantel over at Yuca Baby addresses those Cubanisms in a hilarious way.

Right now I'm trying to build up my Cuban Immunity Arsenal* (*or C.I.A.) and gathering what I need. And the first thing I need, is Homemade Cuban Chicken Soup. 

Here's that recipe:

Sopa-de-pollo-400x300
Sopa-de-pollo-400x300

Sopa de Pollo (Cuban-style Chicken Soup) Recipe

  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped up
  • 1 small bunch of cilantro, chopped up into small bits (unless you love cilantro, go mellow on this, but don't skip it.)
  • 1 Tbsp. cumin
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil ( for sautéing)
  • 3 Tbsp. white flour
  • 8 cups of chicken stock (2- 32 oz. containers)
  • 8 chicken thighs (keep the skin and bones on for now, they add to the flavor)
  • 1 yuca peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes (I use frozen)
  • 2 red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into cubes
  • 2 ripe, cooked plantains (I use frozen - these add a surprising sweetness), sliced into rounds
  • 6 oz. super thin fideo noodles. (again, go mellow on the noodles as they can easily take over the entire dish)
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste

1. Sauté the green onions, cilantro, and cumin in olive oil. Quickly whisk in the flour.

Sopa-2-400x300
Sopa-2-400x300

Keep whisking to avoid lumps. (When the cilantro cooks, it looses it’s bite and leaves an incredible flavor. Don’t skip the cilantro!)

2. Immediately add 1 cup chicken stock, and continue to whisk until well blended.

Sopa-3-400x300
Sopa-3-400x300

3. Remove this mixture from the pot into a bowl and set aside.

4. Place chicken thighs and remaining chicken stock in an 8 quart stockpot.

Bring to a boil.

5. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Sopa-chicken-400x300
Sopa-chicken-400x300

6. Add the yuca, potatoes, and plantains.

Veg-into-sopa-400x299
Veg-into-sopa-400x299

7. Simmer for another 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

8. Remove the chicken thighs from the soup and run under cold water in a colander to cool.

9. Skin and debone the soft chicken, manually shredding it into bite-size pieces.

Rinse-chicken-400x300
Rinse-chicken-400x300

10. Return the chicken to the chicken stock-onion-cilantro mixture.

Chicken-in-green-400x300
Chicken-in-green-400x300

11. Add the chicken-chicken stock-onion-cilantro mixture to the soup.

Green-chicken-into-pot-400x300
Green-chicken-into-pot-400x300

12. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and the noodles.

Sopa-lemon-400x300
Sopa-lemon-400x300

13. Continue cooking for at least 8 to 10 more minutes or until noodles are soft.

14. Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken-sopa-400x300
Chicken-sopa-400x300

So now that I have my Homemade Cuban Chicken Soup, there's just one thing left to do in my quest to rid myself of this virus.

Vicks VapoRub
Vicks VapoRub

I'm rubbing it on the soles of my feet before bedtime and putting on some thick socks. I know. Shut up.

Eric calls it Cuban Voodoo. And I have to admit, I believe there are some mystical, healing properties to the VapoRub (or "El Bix"). And after the chicken soup, I'm feeling all nostalgic and wanting some childhood comfort. But I promise you that I draw the line at lighting a candle to San Lazaro. 

Never mind. It's a Cuban thing. But that's not important right now. ;-)

Ay Dios mio.

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Cuban Recipes with Pictures

Martas kitchen logo 1 copy-1

Welcome to Marta's Cuban-American Kitchen!

Below is an easy-reference list of all the Cuban recipes I've posted either here at MBFCF or over on Babalú. Enjoy!

Arroz con leche

Arroz con Leche Recipe

Arroz con maiz

Arroz con Maiz Recipe

Arroz con pollo

Arroz con Pollo de Perez-Puelles Recipe

Arroz con salchichas
Arroz con Salchichas Recipe

Arroz frito con lechon
Arroz Frito con Lechón Recipe

Arroz imperial  
Arroz Imperial Recipe

Avocado cocktail

Avocado Cocktail Recipe

Cuban Style Avocado Salad

Avocado Salad (Cuban Style) Recipe

NMTF Bread Pudding

(Not-My-Tio-Fernando's) Bread Pudding Recipe

Bacon wrapped dates

Bacon-Wrapped Date Appetizers Recipe

Bananas Marta 5

Bananas de Marta Recipe

Batido de Mamey 2

Batido de Mamey Recipe

Mini springform pans

Cuban Butter Cake Recipe

Bistec de palomilla

Bistec de Palomilla Recipe

Cuban boliche

Boliche - Cuban Pot Roast Recipe

Carne con papas

Carne con Papas Recipe

Sopa de pollo

Chicken Soup Cuban-style Recipe

Chocolate mousse  

Chocolatón (Chocolate Mousse) Recipe

Churrasco

Churrasco Estilo Cubano Recipe

Churros
Churros Recipe

Costillitas de puerco
Costillitas de Puerco Recipe

Crema de vie

Crema de Vie (Cuban Egg Nog) Recipe

Crockpot ajiaco criollo
Crockpot Ajiaco Criollo Recipe

Ropa Vieja

Crockpot Ropa Vieja Recipe

Vaca Frita

Crockpot Vaca Frita Recipe

Pan cubano
Crusty Pan Cubano Recipe

Black bean soup

Cuban Black Bean Soup/Chili Recipe

How to make Cuban coffee

Cuban Coffee - How To Make It 

Cuban pizza
Cuban Pizza Recipe

Cuban sandwich 
Cuban Sandwich Recipe

Dulce de leche cheesecake

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Recipe

Dulce de leche ice cream
Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Recipe - Homemade 

Cuban flan

El Flan de La Reina Recipe

Marta's Elena Ruz sandwich
Elena Ruz Sandwich Recipe With a Twist

Empanadosas

Empanadosas Recipe

Giant empanada
Empanada Gigante Recipe (La Empanada Que Se Le Perdio a Santa Barbara =D)

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Flan Cake Recipe

Fricase de pollo

Fricasé de Pollo Recipe

Frijoles negros
Frijoles Negros a la Latina Recipe

Frita cubana

Frita Cubana Recipe

Frituras de harina de maiz

Frituras de Harina de Maiz Recipe

Fufu

Fufú Recipe

Garlicky chicken

Garlicky Chicken Recipe

Guava-cheesecake

Guava Cheesecake Recipe

Huevos habaneros
Huevos Habaneros Recipe

Crockpot Lechon
Lechon in the Crockpot Recipe (!)

Merengue
Merengue Recipe

Moros y cristianos

Moros y Cristianos Recipe

Natilla
Natilla Recipe

Chicken
Oven-Baked Beer Coke Can Chicken Recipe

Pan-con-bistec
Pan Con Bistec (Cuban-style Steak Sandwich) Recipe

Panetela borracha

Panetela Borracha Recipe

Papa rellena
Papas Rellenas Recipe

Pastel de pollo

Pastel de Pollo Recipe

Pastelitos de guayaba

Pastelitos de Guayaba Recipe

Pescado a la plancha

Pescado a la Plancha Recipe

PICADILLO

Picadillo Recipe

Baked Cuban Picadillo pies

Picadillo Pies® Recipe

Pulpeta

Pulpeta Recipe

Platanos 1

Platanos en Tentación Recipe

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Sopa de platano
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Sweet and sour guava meatballs

Sweet and Sour Guava Meatballs Recipe

Cuban Tamal en Cazuela
Tamal en Cazuela Recipe

Tomato soup

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Torrejas

Torrejas Recipe - My big, fat, Cuban family torrejas - Stuffed with Guava & Cream Cheese

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Oven-Baked Spanish Tortilla Recipe

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Turkey with Port Wine Guava Glaze Recipe (Yes, Guava!)