Turmeric Chicken Couscous Soup
Turmeric turns the broth a deep golden yellow, lemon keeps it bright, and large Lebanese couscous pearls cook right in the pot until they are plump and chewy. Shredded chicken makes it a full dinner for two, and it is ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 ounces celery finely chopped
- 2 ounces carrots finely chopped
- 1 ounce onion finely chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth home-made or store-bought
- 1/2 lemon juice only
- 4 ounces chicken breast rotisserie of fresh, shredded
- 1/3 cup Lebanese couscous (NOTE 1)
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- salt
- parsley garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium pot and add the finely chopped carrot, celery and onion. Stir and saute them in the oil for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
- Add the chicken broth, the shredded rotisserie chicken, lemon juice, couscous, turmeric, thyme, oregano, salt & black pepper. (NOTE 2)
- Stir to combine and cook for about 15 minutes. This is the time the couscous needs.
- When the couscous is cooked, give the soup a good stir, taste and add a little bit of salt & pepper if needed and/or a splash of lemon juice.
- Sprinkle with some finely chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
- I used Lebanese couscous, the largest pearls with the longest cooking time. You can of course replace this type of couscous with Israeli couscous or a type of tiny pasta, like orzo or pastina.
- Instead of rotisserie chicken you can use fresh chicken. Add it to the pot with the broth and cook it for 15 to 25 minutes, until it reaches 165°F. The couscous only needs 15 minutes, so if your chicken needs longer, add the couscous 5 to 10 minutes after the chicken goes in. Timing depends on the thickness of the chicken breast. To shorten it, cut the thickest part in half. When the chicken is done, take it out, shred it, and return it to the soup.
Nutrition
Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 19gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1421mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5g