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Heat butter and olive oil over medium-low heat in a deep soup pot.
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Remove tough green ends of leeks. Split in half and run under cold water to remove any dirt residue. Slice white and tender green portion into ½ inch (1.25 cm) half moons. Add to soup pot with the minced garlic. Increase heat to medium high. Stir and sauté for 5 minutes.
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Peel and slice the carrots into rounds. Dice the potato. As long as they are scrubbed it isn't necessary to peel the carrots or potatoes. Stir into the soup pot and continue to sauté while stirring.
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Dice the cooked chicken. Add to pot with the barley, chicken broth, thyme leaves, bay leaves and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until barley is tender.
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Stir in brown sugar. Taste and add salt if needed. How much salt you need depends on the saltiness of the broth. Remove bay leaves.
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To serve garnish with fresh chopped parsley (optional garnish).
Recipes
Cock-a-Leekie Soup
Cock-a-Leekie is a comforting, traditional Scottish soup made with a whole chicken, leeks and often prunes. Perfect for a cold day or a Robbie Burns supper! This is a quick version and the process is simplified by using prepared chicken broth, cooked chicken, barley and potatoes. A bit of brown sugar substitutes for the prunes.
Ingredients
- Serves: 15
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
- 3 leek(s), sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 carrot(s), medium, sliced
- 3 potato(es), with skin, diced
- 3 cups (750 mL) chicken breast(s), cooked, diced
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) barley, dry
- 14 cups (3.5 L) low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) thyme, fresh
- or
- 1 tsp (5 mL) thyme, dried
- 1/4 tsp (1.25 mL) black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tsp (5 mL) brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 mL) salt, (optional)
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) parsley, fresh, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
The soup ingredients can be cut in half to make a smaller batch but note that the soup also freezes well.
Nutrition Info
- Per 340 g serving Amount
- Calories 160
- Protein 15 g
- Fat 4 g
- Saturated Fat 1 g
- Carbohydrate 17 g
- Fibre 2 g
- Sugar 2 g
- Cholesterol 25 mg
- Sodium 190 mg
- Per 340 g serving % Daily Value
- Potassium 16
- Calcium 4
- Iron 10
- Vitamin A 4
- Vitamin C 20
- Vitamin B6 20
- Vitamin B12 17
- Folate 10
- Magnesium 13
- Zinc 9
