Cockaleekie Soup

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 195 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

Cook cold weather-favorite cock-a-leekie soup low and slow on your stovetop, then sit back and enjoy a filling bowl of chicken, leeks, and barley.

Ingredients

20 cups water
1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken
1/2 white onion, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
6 large leeks, cut into 1-inch chunks, or more to taste
2/3 cup pearl barley
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1 Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
2 Remove chicken, keeping water in the stock pot, and let cool. Discard skin, pull meat from bones, and put bones back into the stockpot. Add onion, carrots, and celery; boil the stock for about 1 hour.
3 Meanwhile, soak leeks in a bowl of water, about 10 minutes; drain.
4 When the stock is done, remove bones and vegetables using a slotted spoon; discard.
5 Add chicken meat, leeks, barley, celery seed, cloves, salt, and black pepper to stock. Simmer until barley is tender and the flavors have blended, about 1 hour.