Hearty Minnesota Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This robust and comforting Minnesota Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a delightful way to utilize leftover chicken or turkey, transforming simple ingredients into a nourishing meal. Packed with tender vegetables, savory wild rice, and creamy broth, this soup captures the essence of Midwestern comfort food. Perfect for chilly days, it offers a wholesome blend of flavors with the added richness of half-and-half and a hint of sherry. Easy to customize with any vegetables you have on hand, it's an excellent choice for both everyday lunches and special family dinners.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
chicken broth
4 cups (none)
carrot
1 cup (sliced)
potato
1 cup (peeled and cut up)
wild rice
1/3 cup (uncooked)
green onion
1/3 cup (sliced)
green bell pepper
1/3 cup (chopped)
dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon (crushed)
black pepper
1/4 teaspoon (none)
butter
2 tablespoons (none)
half-and-half
1 cup (none)
all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons (none)
cooked chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups (chopped)
dry sherry
2 tablespoons (none)
Instructions
1
In a large pot, bring the chicken broth to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
2
Add the sliced carrots, chopped potatoes, uncooked wild rice, sliced green onions, and diced green bell pepper to the pot.
3
Season with dried thyme and black pepper, then cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low.
4
Let the mixture simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the wild rice is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
5
Once the rice is tender, stir in the butter and half-and-half, mixing until well combined.
6
In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour with a little bit of the soup broth to create a smooth slurry. Slowly add this mixture to the pot, stirring constantly to avoid any lumps forming.
7
Finally, fold in the chopped cooked chicken and dry sherry, allowing the soup to heat through for an additional 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Minnesota Chicken and Wild Rice Soup?
It is a robust and comforting soup that captures the essence of Midwestern comfort food, featuring tender vegetables, wild rice, and chicken in a creamy broth.
How long does it take to cook the wild rice in this soup?
The wild rice and vegetables should be simmered on low heat for approximately 45 minutes until the rice is tender.
Can I use leftover turkey instead of chicken?
Yes, this recipe is a delightful way to utilize either leftover chicken or turkey.
What vegetables are included in this recipe?
The soup includes sliced carrots, chopped potatoes, sliced green onions, and diced green bell pepper.
How is the soup thickened?
The soup is thickened by whisking together all-purpose flour with a small amount of the soup broth to create a smooth slurry, which is then stirred into the pot.
What kind of rice should I use?
The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of uncooked wild rice.
Do I need to cook the wild rice before adding it to the soup?
No, you add the uncooked wild rice directly to the boiling chicken broth at the beginning of the cooking process.
What role does dry sherry play in the recipe?
The dry sherry provides a hint of richness and depth to the flavor profile of the soup.
How much chicken broth is required?
You will need 4 cups of chicken broth for this recipe.
What dairy products are used to make the soup creamy?
The recipe uses 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 cup of half-and-half to achieve its creamy consistency.
At what point do I add the cooked chicken?
The chopped cooked chicken is folded in at the very end, along with the dry sherry, after the rice and vegetables are tender.
How should the potatoes be prepared?
The potatoes should be peeled and cut up into small pieces before being added to the pot.
What seasonings are used in this Minnesota soup?
The soup is seasoned with 1/2 teaspoon of crushed dried thyme and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
How do I prevent lumps when adding the flour?
Create a smooth slurry by mixing the flour with a little soup broth first, then add it slowly to the pot while stirring constantly.
Can I customize the vegetables in this soup?
Yes, this recipe is easy to customize with any vegetables you have on hand.
How long does the soup need to heat after adding the chicken?
Allow the soup to heat through for an additional 5-10 minutes after adding the chicken and sherry.
Is the heat kept at a boil throughout the cooking process?
No, after bringing the broth to a rolling boil initially, the heat should be reduced to low for the 45-minute simmering period.
How much cooked chicken is needed?
The recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of chopped cooked chicken breasts.
Is the pot covered during simmering?
Yes, you should cover the pot with a lid once the heat is reduced to low.
What type of onions are best for this soup?
The recipe specifically uses 1/3 cup of sliced green onions.
How much butter is used?
The recipe requires 2 tablespoons of butter.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
While the recipe specifies chicken breasts, you can easily use chopped cooked chicken thighs if preferred.
What is the primary flavor profile of this soup?
It has a savory, wholesome blend of flavors with richness from the dairy and a herbal note from the thyme.
Is this soup suitable for a family dinner?
Yes, it is an excellent choice for both everyday lunches and special family dinners.
How much all-purpose flour is used for the slurry?
The recipe uses 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
When should I adjust the seasoning?
You should taste and adjust the seasoning as the final step before serving the soup.
How many cups of carrots are needed?
You will need 1 cup of sliced carrots.
What is the amount of green bell pepper used?
The recipe calls for 1/3 cup of chopped green bell pepper.
How much dry sherry is added at the end?
The recipe includes 2 tablespoons of dry sherry.
Is this soup considered a hearty meal?
Yes, it is described as a robust, nourishing, and hearty meal perfect for chilly days.