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Jamaican Chicken Soup

Jamaican Chicken Soup
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Jamaican Chicken Soup is a hearty, authentic Caribbean dish bursting with traditional Jamaican spices, root vegetables, and tender chicken. This soulful recipe combines aromatic herbs like fresh thyme and culantro with flavorful ingredients such as Scotch bonnet pepper, pimento seeds, and ginger to create a comforting and nutritious soup perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 whole chicken or 3–4 bone-in chicken pieces, cleaned and cut
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Soup Base

  • 8 cups chicken broth or water
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated or sliced
  • 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1–2 Scotch bonnet peppers (whole or sliced), adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp pimento seeds (allspice berries), toasted if preferred

Vegetables

  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 medium Irish potatoes, diced
  • 1 medium yam, diced

Finishing Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley or culantro (chadon beni), chopped
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Clean and cut the whole chicken into pieces if using a whole bird. Season lightly with salt and black pepper to keep the chicken juicy and flavorful during cooking.
  2. Build the Soup Base: In a large pot, add chicken broth or water, chopped onions, garlic, ginger, fresh thyme, toasted pimento seeds, and Scotch bonnet pepper. Bring this mixture to a boil to create an aromatic broth.
  3. Add the Chicken and Simmer: Gently add the chicken pieces to the boiling broth. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cover. Let the chicken cook thoroughly for 30 to 40 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
  4. Incorporate the Vegetables: Add diced carrots, Irish potatoes, and yam to the pot. Continue simmering for another 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender with a slight bite.
  5. Final Touches: Remove the Scotch bonnet pepper to reduce heat if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Stir in fresh chopped parsley or culantro just before serving to add freshness and color.

Notes

  • Use bone-in chicken to enrich the broth with flavor and natural gelatin.
  • Adjust Scotch bonnet pepper carefully to control heat; remove after cooking if preferred.
  • Toast pimento seeds before adding for deeper spice notes.
  • Cut vegetables uniformly for even cooking.
  • Simmer gently after adding chicken to maintain tenderness.
  • Variation options include vegetarian versions using beans and vegetable broth, adding greens like callaloo or spinach, substituting root vegetables, and incorporating coconut milk for creaminess.
  • Leftover soup tastes better after a day and freezes well up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Jamaican chicken soup, Caribbean soup, spicy chicken soup, traditional Jamaican recipe, hearty chicken soup, Scotch bonnet pepper soup, authentic Jamaican cuisine

Find it online: https://sophiespace.com/jamaican-chicken-soup/