Healing Foods: Really Satisfying Chicken Soup with Orzo

My dear friend Gabs hasn’t had much of an appetite lately. Her chemo treatments have zapped her energy, and made food very unappealing. When I heard that from her—I knew it was time for a good chicken soup.

I am a firm believer in the healing (and magical) power of chicken soup. It is one of the most comforting, healing and nutrient dense foods when you are feeling poorly. I loved the smell of my mother’s chicken soup wafting from our kitchen when I was home sick from school. And our wonderful Salvadoran nanny makes a “sopa de pollo” that our daughters love to eat any time, any season—sick or healthy. It is just plain yummy.

The long list of healthy ingredients provides protein, beta-carotene, heart-healthy enzymes, vitamins A, C, potassium and magnesium (among others!) in one delicious bowl. And, whatever your family’s recipe---it is a universal comfort and healing food.

This is the recipe I made for Gabs that warmed her heart and helped build up her strength. Browning the chicken first on all sides helps to give a deeper, richer flavor to the broth, and all of the usual vegetables make it wonderfully satisfying. Try this the next time you need a comforting dish. It’s good for the immune system…and the soul.

Chicken Soup with Orzo

3 chicken legs and thighs

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 small zucchini diced

1 quart organic chicken stock

salt and pepper to taste

½ cup dried orzo

Heat olive oil in a dutch oven until hot. Add chicken pieces, sauté about 5 minutes each side until browned. Add onions, celery, carrot and zucchini to the pot and allow them to cook/sweat for about 5 minutes, stirring a few times to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for about 25 minutes. Remove chicken pieces and separate meat from the bones and skin, and slice the chicken into small dice. Return chicken to pot along with ½ cup dried orzo. Bring to a boil again, then lower to a simmer for 5 more minutes. You may want to add more chicken stock if the soup is too thick for your liking. Serve hot.