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Jamaican Chicken Soup

Jamaican Chicken Soup with Spinners and Root Vegetables Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 465
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 stalks scallion, chopped, plus extra for garnish
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped, or 1 tsp dried
  • 4 whole pimento (allspice) berries
  • 1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper
  • 1 lb pumpkin, peeled and diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
  • 1 chocho (chayote), peeled, seed removed, and diced
  • 1 small yellow yam, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 ear corn, cut into 4 chunks
  • 1 packet Jamaican chicken soup mix (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 8 cups water, plus more as needed
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup fine cornmeal
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¾ cup water

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then brown in batches, about 4 minutes per side. Set aside. Lower heat, add onion, cook 3 minutes, then stir in garlic, scallion, thyme, and pimento for 30 seconds.
  2. Return chicken to pot. Add 8 cups water, Scotch bonnet pepper, and soup mix if using. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.
  3. Add pumpkin, carrots, chocho, yam, and corn. Cover and simmer 15 minutes until vegetables are fork-tender.
  4. Mix flour, cornmeal, and 1 tsp salt. Work in ¾ cup water to form a firm dough. Roll into thin 3-inch spinners and drop into the simmering soup. Cook 3 to 5 minutes until they float.
  5. Remove Scotch bonnet pepper. Adjust seasoning, ladle into bowls, garnish with scallion and fresh thyme, and serve hot.

Notes

The Jamaican soup mix gives the broth a warm golden color and a savory boost, but the soup is still delicious without it. When you add the Scotch bonnet, leave it whole so its aroma infuses the soup gently; if you want more heat, pierce it lightly. The spinners soak up liquid as they sit, so add a splash of water when reheating leftovers.