Tavuk Corbasi – Turkish Chicken Soup

What Makes This Hen Soup Turkish?

This isn’t simply any hen soup—it’s filled with flavors that make it uniquely Turkish.

This soup can also be similar to Turkish Orzo Soup (Şehriye Çorbası) however with the addition of hen inventory and shredded hen.

In Turkey, making hen soup all the time begins with home made hen inventory (tavuk suyu). No one buys it from the shop—making your personal inventory is simply a part of the method. 

Additionally, dried mint, paprika (toz biber) and the tomato base add a heat and hearty taste. These are just like the signature of Turkish soups.

A Therapeutic Soup for Colds

In Turkey, tavuk corbasi is the go-to soup for somebody who catches a chilly.

It’s believed that the nutritional vitamins and minerals from hen bones and meat assist enhance the immune system and velocity up restoration. 

That is additionally one more reason why we all the time make our hen inventory from scratch and why bone-in hen elements or perhaps a entire hen are most popular.

About The Components

This Turkish Hen Soup Recipe is made with easy elements that come collectively to create a comforting dish. Right here’s what you want:

Hen Thighs: We use bone-in, skin-on hen thighs for the very best taste. The bones and pores and skin make the inventory richer. You can too use drumsticks, an entire hen, and even hen breasts (although they gained’t be as flavorful). In case you desire, skinless hen can be utilized, however take into account swapping olive oil for butter so as to add richness.

Orzo: Orzo is a standard alternative for this soup, however vermicelli, small pasta and rice are nice substitutes in the event you don’t have orzo. 

Tomato Paste (Domates Salçası): Provides a deep, savory taste that kinds the bottom of the soup.

Dried Mint: This can be a should on this soup, so don’t skip it. Contemporary mint isn’t an acceptable substitute because it has a really totally different taste.

Paprika: Enhances each the colour and taste. You possibly can substitute it with chili powder for a spicier kick.

Garlic: Use freshly grated garlic for the very best taste.

Tomato: We desire grating a recent tomato for its brilliant style, however canned tomatoes work as a handy different.

Lemon Juice: All the time use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the freshest, tangiest taste.

Parsley: Contemporary parsley is crucial, not only for garnish however so as to add a richer taste to the soup. We don’t suggest substituting it.

How one can Make Turkish Hen Soup

Making tavuk corbasi is easy and so value it!

Begin by cooking the hen to make a flavorful home made inventory. Prepare dinner the hen thighs till golden on each side for additional taste. This step isn’t a should—you may pour water immediately over uncooked hen to make the inventory—however frying the hen first provides a a lot deeper style.

As soon as the hen is cooked and shredded, put together the tomato and spice base, then add the orzo. 

Pour within the hen inventory and simmer the whole lot collectively till tender. Lastly, combine within the shredded hen, a splash of lemon juice and recent parsley.

For detailed directions, take a look at the total recipe within the recipe card beneath!

How one can Shred the Cooked Hen

After cooking the hen, let it cool barely so you may deal with it with out burning your fingers. As soon as it’s manageable, peel off the pores and skin and discard it together with the bones. 

Whereas many individuals use two forks to shred hen, we discover it simpler to make use of a knife and fork, as this provides extra management for creating excellent, bite-sized items.

Zerrin’s mother, then again, prefers the hands-on methodology, shredding the hen solely by hand. It’s fast, easy, and simply as efficient!

Ensure to cowl the shredded hen till it’s time so as to add it again to the soup to maintain it from drying out.

Completely! Whereas we desire utilizing bone-in, skin-on hen thighs for his or her wealthy taste, different hen elements work simply as properly. 

Drumsticks work simply in addition to hen thighs on this recipe. Merely comply with the identical steps outlined right here.

An entire hen is one other nice choice. You possibly can place the entire hen immediately into the pot. In case you discover it tough to fry the entire hen, you may skip that step solely. Your hen inventory will nonetheless be scrumptious because it has loads of bones to make the inventory flavorful.

In case you select to make use of an entire hen, remember the fact that it takes longer to prepare dinner—about 1.5 hours or extra, relying on the scale of the hen. 

Hen breasts are additionally an choice, particularly in the event you desire a leaner soup, however they gained’t add as a lot taste to the inventory. 

What to Serve with It

It’s best to all the time serve Turkish hen soup with lemon wedges on the aspect so everybody can add extra lemon juice to their bowl in the event that they like.

For bread, Ramazan Pidesi and Bazlama are excellent choices to take pleasure in with this soup. Their tender, fluffy texture is nice for dipping into the wealthy broth.

Turkish individuals typically pair this soup with tangy pickles (turşu) for a burst of taste or a bowl of recent salad with greens.

How one can Retailer It

Tavuk corbasi shops properly and may even be frozen if wanted, however we don’t normally suggest freezing it as a result of the feel of the orzo won’t be pretty much as good after thawing. Right here’s learn how to retailer it:

Refrigerating: Let the soup cool fully and switch it to an hermetic container. It may be saved within the fridge for as much as 4 days. To reheat, heat the soup gently on the stovetop over medium warmth, stirring sometimes. If the soup has thickened (particularly from the orzo), add a splash of water or hen broth to regulate the consistency.

Freezing: Permit it to chill fully, then pour it into freezer-safe containers or baggage, leaving some house on the high for enlargement. It may be saved within the freezer for as much as 3 months. To thaw, depart it within the fridge in a single day and reheat gently on the stovetop, including a splash of water or inventory if wanted.

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