Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup (Sopa de Pollo y Arroz)

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This Mexican soup, or sopa de pollo y arroz, makes an easy herb-filled broth from scratch that turns into a hearty meal of chicken and rice.

Ingredients

2 1/2 quarts chicken stock
2 pounds skin-on, bone-in whole chicken legs (drumsticks and thighs)
3 carrots, chopped
1 white onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 cups cooked rice
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
2 serrano peppers, minced
2 limes, quartered

Directions

1 Bring stock to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Add chicken legs; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, skimming away foam that forms on the surface. Add carrots, onion, celery, cilantro, garlic, and mint.
2 Cover pot and cook until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes more. Remove chicken from the pot; discard skin and bones. Shred meat using 2 forks.
3 Return chicken meat to the pot and season with salt and pepper. Add rice. Let chicken and rice warm up, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour soup into serving bowls. Top with avocado and serrano peppers and squeeze in lime juice.