Chicken and green bean soup

Chicken and Green Bean Borscht

Total preparation time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 6

Welcome to the universe of flavors, where every ingredient has its story and every recipe becomes a memory full of tastes! Today, we will indulge in a chicken and green bean borscht, a traditional recipe that brings not only a tasty dish to our table but also a piece of culinary history with simple yet flavorful ingredients.

Borscht is a tangy soup that has captured the hearts of many and is often associated with comfort and family meals. Each housewife has her secret, and today we will explore a version that combines chicken with crunchy green beans and fresh vegetables, resulting in a refreshing soup perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients:
- 1 medium chicken or 1/2 hen or rooster
- 1/2 kg green beans
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 onion
- fresh lovage
- 1 liter sour borscht
- salt, to taste
- 1 egg
- sour cream, for serving

Necessary utensils:
- A large pot for boiling
- A sharp knife
- A wooden spoon
- A strainer or colander for draining

Preparation:

1. Preparing the chicken: Start by cleaning the chicken. If it is fresh, pass it through a flame to remove any feathers and impurities. This step also helps enhance the flavor. After cleaning, rub the chicken with cornmeal, a traditional practice that helps remove impurities. Then, wash it well in several cold waters to ensure it is clean.

2. Cutting the chicken: Cut the chicken into suitable pieces so that it cooks evenly. If you prefer, you can use only the thighs or breast, but we recommend using the whole chicken for a richer flavor.

3. Boiling the chicken: Fill a large pot with water and add the chicken pieces. Let it boil, but not before bringing the chicken to a boil a few times and discarding the water. This step helps remove impurities and achieve a clearer soup. After discarding the water, refill the pot with fresh water and let the meat boil over medium heat.

4. Adding the green beans: After about 30 minutes, when the meat has started to soften, add the cleaned green beans cut into 2-3 cm pieces. This ingredient provides a crunchy texture and fresh flavor to the soup.

5. Adding the vegetables: After the green beans have boiled for 15 minutes, add the finely chopped onion, sliced tomatoes, and diced bell peppers. These vegetables not only enrich the flavor of the borscht but also bring an attractive palette of colors.

6. Seasoning: Season with salt to taste and let it boil covered for another 15 minutes. This is the perfect time to enjoy the aromas spreading in the kitchen!

7. Adding the borscht: When the vegetables are cooked, add the separately boiled borscht. This step is essential to give the soup its unmistakable sour taste. However, to keep the flavors intact, it is best to add the borscht gradually, tasting along the way.

8. Finalizing the dish: Finally, add the finely chopped lovage and, if desired, a beaten egg to thicken the soup. It is important to cool the borscht slightly before adding the egg to prevent coagulation. Let it boil for another 5 minutes to combine the flavors.

9. Serving: The borscht is served hot, alongside a spoonful of sour cream and slices of fresh bread. If you enjoy spiciness, don’t forget to add fresh hot peppers!

Practical tips:
- Green beans: Choose fresh green beans, preferably from the market, for better taste. If using frozen beans, let them thaw before adding them to the borscht.
- Lovage: Use fresh lovage, as it significantly enhances the flavor of the borscht. If you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute it with parsley, although the taste will be different.
- Sour borscht: Borscht can be homemade or store-bought. If you opt for the store-bought version, make sure it is made from natural ingredients without preservatives.
- Vegetarian version: If you want a vegetarian version, remove the meat and add more vegetables, such as potatoes or carrots.

Nutritional information:
This recipe is rich in protein due to the chicken and full of vitamins from the vegetables. Green beans provide an additional fiber intake, contributing to healthy digestion. A serving of borscht contains approximately 180 calories, depending on the amount of sour cream added.

This chicken and green bean borscht is perfect for a family meal, reminding us of warm and welcoming dinners from childhood. With every spoonful, you will feel not only the delicious taste but also the warmth and love with which it was prepared. Don’t hesitate to share this recipe with your loved ones and create unforgettable memories together!

If you are looking for complementary recipes, try serving this borscht with a fresh summer salad or steaming polenta. Every meal thus becomes a celebration of flavors, and the borscht remains the star of the evening!

Enjoy cooking and bon appétit!