In the culinary realm of hearty and comforting soups, Scottish Highland Chicken Soup stands tall as a beacon of warmth and flavor. Originating from the rugged highlands of Scotland, this soup encapsulates the essence of traditional Scottish cuisine, where simple ingredients are transformed into a symphony of taste. This delectable dish features succulent chicken pieces swimming in a rich and flavorful broth, enhanced by a medley of vegetables, herbs, and a hint of Scotch whisky, paying homage to Scotland's iconic spirit. Alongside this classic recipe, the article offers a vegetarian variation, catering to diverse dietary preferences. Additionally, a slow-cooker adaptation is presented for those seeking a convenient and hassle-free cooking method.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CHICKEN SOUP
Make and share this Scottish Highland Chicken Soup recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Millereg
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Remove the crusts from the bread and place the bread in small saucepan.
- Cover with the milk and bring to a boil.
- Set aside and allow to cool a bit.
- Pound the minced chicken, almonds and hard-boiled yolks in a mortar until smooth, and then place in a large bowl.
- Gradually beat in the bread and milk.
- Stir in the stock, and then pass through a sieve into a saucepan.
- Bring to the boil, season with salt and pepper, add the nutmeg and lemon juice and simmer for 10 minutes; remove from the heat.
- Beat the egg yolks with the cream and blend in 3 tablespoonfuls of the hot soup.
- Stir the mixture into the soup and heat gently for 2 or 3 minutes.
- DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.
- When it thickens, serve with the diced chicken as a garnish.
COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP (SCOTTISH CHICKEN AND LEEK SOUP)
Leeks star in this classic Scottish chicken soup, adding their sweet, oniony flavor to the meaty, fragrant broth. Some versions of this recipe omit the prunes, but their rich fruitiness is what sets this dish apart from other chicken soups. Rice, either brown or white, can stand in for the barley, and some recipes call for oats (in which case use an equal amount of steel-cut, rather than rolled). For a heartier, more stewlike soup, use 3/4 cup barley.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Time 2h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Season chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Set chicken aside while prepping the other ingredients.
- Put leek greens, carrot peels, celery leaves, garlic, parsley stems, thyme, bay leaf and star anise at bottom of a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the peppercorns, and pour in 8 cups cold water, or enough to just submerge the chicken.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer and partly cover the pot. Cook until chicken is cooked through and very tender, 45 to 55 minutes.
- While the chicken cooks, thickly slice 3 of the leek whites into 1/2-inch coins. Thinly slice the remaining leek white; set thinly and thickly sliced leeks aside separately.
- When the chicken is tender, using tongs, transfer to a large bowl or plate to cool. Strain the broth into a large bowl, discarding vegetables and herbs.
- Wipe out the Dutch oven and return it to medium-high heat. Add butter, letting it melt. Add the thick leek coins (save the thinly sliced leek for garnish), a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer leek whites to a bowl (they can go on top of the chicken if there's room).
- Pour broth back into the pot. Bring broth to a brisk simmer, and stir in barley, carrots and celery. Let broth simmer uncovered until the liquid is reduced by a third, and the barley and vegetables are tender, 40 to 50 minutes.
- While the broth is simmering, use a fork or your fingers to shred chicken into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones.
- Once the barley and vegetables are tender, stir in shredded chicken, sautéed leek whites and the prunes, and simmer for another 5 minutes to allow the prunes to soften (some might disintegrate). Taste and add salt, if needed. To serve, garnish with thinly sliced leek whites and parsley leaves.
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CHICKEN WITH WHISKY AND CREAM
The Scottish tradition of cooking chicken in an enclosed pot is known as stoved or stovies, a word that derives from the French etouffee that describes cooking in a covered or closed vessel When you make this recipe cut the chicken up the back, remove the backbone (keep it for stocks) and spread the two halves out, flattening the bird. This helps to cook the chicken quickly and more evenly. If you don't have a roasting pan with a lid, enclose the pan with foil. Serve this comforting dish with Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes.
Provided by Olha7397
Categories Chicken
Time 1h15m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and rub all over with salt, pepper and half the olive oil.
- Combine the remaining oil and butter in a lidded roasting pan and place over medium heat.
- When butter is foaming, place the chicken, breast side down, in the pan and brown for about 4-5 minutes, then turn and brown on the other side for the same length of time. Drain off most of the fat.
- Return the pan with the chicken to the heat and, working quickly, pour the whiskey over it and then set alight. Let the flame die down and then add the broth.
- Cover the chicken with the roasting pan lid (or tuck foil all the way around) and transfer to the oven to bake for about 45-50 minutes.
- When the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a cutting board to rest.
- Drain off some of the accumulated fat and then set the pan on a medium high heat.
- Add a spoonful of water to loosen bits clinging to the bottom of the pan, and then add the cream, stirring as you do so.
- Bring to a boil and let cook for about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the parsley to the sauce and keep warm.
- Section the chicken and serve the sauce at table with the chicken. Serves 4-6.
- Speyside Whisky Festival: Held each year at the beginning of May, the Speyside Whisky Festival provides opportunities to tour some of Scotland's most esteemed distilleries, meet the experts in the whisky industry and, the best part, taste some stellar malts. There is great fun to be had during the evenings, fueled by malt and music and the company of fellow whisky lovers from around Scotland and the world. Visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com for more information.
- NOTE: The Famous Grouse blended whisky, which, by the way, includes these three whiskies in the blend: Glenrothes (for fragrance), Highland Park (for a light smokiness) and Macallan (for unmistakable richness and backbone).
- New Celtic Cooking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 902.7, Fat 76.3, SaturatedFat 29.2, Cholesterol 257.2, Sodium 318.4, Carbohydrate 2, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 0.2, Protein 39.7
CHICKEN STOVIES - TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH RECIPE
The word 'stovies' is from the French 'etoufee', meaning 'stewed in a closed vessel'. This popular Highland dish, possibly of French origin, has become a favourite all over Scotland. Like most national affairs, the exact way to cook stovies is a matter of dispute for many Scots; this traditional recipe preserves all the essence of the bird.
Provided by Millereg
Categories Stew
Time 3h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut chicken into serving pieces.
- Slice potatoes in medium thick rounds.
- Melt 1 heaped tablespoons.
- of butter in a skillet or saucepan.
- Brown chicken joints lightly on both sides and then remove them.
- Grease an ovenproof casserole dish and put in layers as follows: sliced potatoes, whole shallots or sliced onions (all well-seasoned), chicken.
- Dot each layer with little knobs of butter.
- Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of potatoes.
- Pour stock over the potatoes, shallots and chicken.
- Cover with buttered greaseproof paper, then with lid.
- Cook in oven at 275F/135C for about 2½ hours.
- Add a little hot stock or water after about an hour or so, if liquid dries up too much.
- Sprinkle generously with chopped parsley 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1066.3, Fat 58.8, SaturatedFat 18.8, Cholesterol 274.2, Sodium 431.4, Carbohydrate 58.9, Fiber 6.2, Sugar 4.1, Protein 72.9
SCOTTISH COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP
It may take a few hours to make this famous Scottish soup but there's really not much to it other than some chopping and simmering. It's one of the world's best chicken soups! Top with freshly ground black pepper and chopped fresh chives.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Chicken Soup
Time 4h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cut off the leek tops (the dark green, fibrous parts) and wash well. Set aside the leek bottoms.
- Put clean leak tops in the bottom of a large pot. Place chicken on top and add bay leaf, garlic, dried plums, and 3 quarts water. Set over high heat until it starts to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low or low and simmer gently, occasionally pushing the chicken under the liquid with tongs, for 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare leek bottoms by trimming off the root ends and slicing them in half lengthwise. Turn leeks and cut crosswise into ½-inch slices. Transfer to a large bowl and fill with cold water so leeks are floating. Toss with your hands to loosen dirt. Grab leeks with your hands, shake gently to remove water, and transfer to another bowl. Place in the refrigerator until needed.
- Carefully lift chicken with two forks, let liquid drain from the cavity, and place it in a bowl. Separate meat from skin and bones. Tear meat into bite-sized pieces put in the refrigerator until needed.
- Place skin and bones back into the pot and gently simmer for 1 more hour.
- Set a colander in a bowl. Use a skimmer spoon to transfer all solids from the broth to the colander. Discard solids and transfer any broth back to the pot.
- Add half of the sliced leeks to the pot with salt, pepper, and rice. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, skimming some fat off if you want and adding more water if it's reducing down too much.
- Add remaining sliced leeks, chicken, and thyme. Simmer over medium-low for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 810.1 calories, Carbohydrate 37 g, Cholesterol 227 mg, Fat 46.2 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 59.9 g, SaturatedFat 13.1 g, Sodium 1224.8 mg
Tips:
- Use a variety of vegetables. This will add flavor and nutrients to your soup. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, and leeks.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. This is a great way to customize your soup to your own taste.
- Simmer the soup for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together and develop.
- Serve the soup with a side of crusty bread or crackers. This will help to soak up the broth and make the meal more satisfying.
Conclusion:
Scottish Highland Chicken Soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. So next time you are looking for a comforting and flavorful soup, give this recipe a try!
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