Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
- 1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 4 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- Kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 bunch thyme
- 3 pounds bone-in chicken legs and thighs, skin and excess fat removed
- Water, as needed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 grates fresh nutmeg
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups small pasta, preferably small shells such as orecchiette, or orzo
- 1 (15-ounce) can white beans or chick peas
- 1 bunch cilantro, leaves coarsely chopped
Directions
Coat a large stock pot with olive oil and add the onions, celery and carrots. Season with salt, to taste, and bring the pot to medium-high heat. Cook the vegetables until they start to soften and are very aromatic, about 10 minutes. Add in the garlic, crushed red pepper and thyme and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Add the bay leaves, bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes and skim off any particles that accumulate on the surface. Squeeze the juice of the 2 lemon halves into the soup and drop in the lemon halves. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and taste for seasoning. Adjust the flavors with salt and pepper, if needed. Simmer the soup for an additional hour.
While the soup is simmering, bring another pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until "al dente," firm but not crunchy. Drain the pasta and transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and toss. Reserve.
After the soup has finished, switch the heat off and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Discard the lemon halves, thyme and bay leaves. Let the chicken cool, then remove the bones and discard. Pull the meat into bite-sized pieces and return them to the pot. Taste the soup for seasoning, which should be spicy with a bright lemon flavor and a warm cinnamon chicken feel. It should be very full-flavored and warm your soul. Rinse the beans and add them to the pot. Adjust the seasoning, if needed.
Spoon some of the reserved pasta into the bottom of each serving bowl and ladle the hot soup over the pasta. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and serve. This soup is perfect for a cold day! YAY!
Photo: Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

















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By mba0001
Northern California
on February 24, 2013
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Wow, this is a fabulous recipe. Based on the reviews, we were reluctant to use all of the cinnamon so we halved it. The combination of the cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, garlic, and the red pepper flakes was amazing. Since my husband had a cold, we used 12 cloves of garlic, and it was not at all overpowering. He's feeling much better today, so I have to credit the soup!
By ZnSD
on January 28, 2013
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Delicious; if you can't read the instructions, or don't understand using spices, then open a can, don't take it out on this recipe! Ok? Because it's just fine the way it is.
By sharoncthompson...
Columbus, Ohio
on January 08, 2013
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I should have read the reviews! Note: many people reduced or didn't use the spices ~ there is a good reason! My husband and I are very open and will try just about anything. I also LOVE Ann Burrell ~ she is great. I followed this recipe exactly and the use of cinnamon with nutmeg was a bad combination. I love these flavors, but in a chicken soup it was a NO GO. In 35 years of cooking, I've never thrown out a recipe, but this I sadly threw out. BUT, I plan to use the recipe again without the cinnamon and nutmeg.
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