Week 213: Spanish Chicken Rice Soup

Hello & Happy Thursday!

For the first few years of Soup(er) Delivery, I was introducing new soups and breads constantly. As the years went by, the number of soups that became staples on the menu continued to increase as customers kept requesting their favorite soups so the opportunity to introduce new soups lessened.

I took advantage of my longer winter break to experiment with some new soups, in fact we taste tested four new ones. One was ok, two were good and one was a hands down a winner .... and I'm excited to add this soup to this week's menu.

On the menu for TUESDAY, JANUARY 31st is SPANISH CHICKEN RICE SOUP and ITALIAN HERB BREAD. My Spanish chicken rice soup is a wonderfully warming Spanish inspired soup loaded with chicken, peppery chorizo, and flavorful rice in a delicious tomatoey broth. A bowl of this soup is a perfect dinner on a cold January evening!!

The soup begins with sauteing chorizo, a mildly spicy smoked sausage made with pork, rich spices, & paprika. Next, diced carrots, onions, red bell peppers, and garlic are added along with Spanish paprika, a little crushed red pepper, and bay leaves. Once the veggies are softened, diced tomatoes, shredded chicken and homemade chicken stock are incorporated and brought to a simmer.

While waiting for the soup to simmer, we can concentrate on the Spanish rice, made of white rice, tomato sauce, diced onions and peppers, and spices. Once the yummy rice is cooked, it's added to the soup. The soup is garnished with Spanish olives, shredded Manchego cheese, and fresh lemon juice and cilantro to add a salty, fresh bite!

The bread companion this week is my Italian Herb Bread. This delicious bread is filled with garlic, butter and fresh herbs. This bread is a fan favorite and the fresh herbs in it will make a perfect compliment to the soup.