A beautiful marriage of contrasting flavors create a memorable, hot and hearty soup.

Another delicious recipe from our Family-Favorite Recipes Collection.

Chicken Soup with Cilantro and Lime

1 (approximately 3-pounds) stewing chicken

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Water

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 stalks celery, sliced

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 teaspoons kosher or sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 large bay leaf

1 1/2 tablespoons chicken base* or bouillon granules

8 ounces thin egg noodles, cooked according to package directions

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, whole or coarsely chopped (no stems)

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

Sour cream for topping

Lime wedges for additional flavor

Warm flour tortillas for accompaniment

1. Remove the neck and giblets, save in the freezer for another use or discard as desired. Wash chicken inside and out thoroughly. Dry thoroughly with paper towels, inside and out.
2. Heat the oil over medium heat a large cooking pot and brown whole chicken until golden brown.
3. Add enough water to just cover the chicken. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam and fat that accumulates on the surface.
4. Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrot, salt, pepper and bay leaf; cover, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, or until chicken is tender.
5. Remove chicken from broth; cool slightly and remove the meat from bones, discarding bones and skin. Shred chicken into bite-sized chunks and return to pot. Add the chicken base and noodles; reheat just to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro leaves and lime juice.
6. To serve, ladle soup into bowls, top with a dollop of sour cream and pass the lime wedges and tortillas for accompaniment, as desired.

Makes 8 servings.

*I prefer and use Redi-Base soup bases available at www.redibase.com.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/8 of recipe; does not include toppings and accompaniments): 189.2 calories; 33% calories from fat; 6.9g total fat; 55.2mg cholesterol; 580.6mg sodium; 381.8mg potassium; 13.8g carbohydrates; 1.8g fiber; 2.6g sugar; 12.0g net carbs; 17.6g protein.

Copyright Hope Pryor, please see Terms of Use. Photograph property of CooksRecipes.com.