Ciorbă de Pui cu Legume Rădăcinoase
A hearty and flavorful Romanian chicken soup packed with root vegetables, offering a comforting and nutritious meal.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken (whole or pieces)
- 3 l Water
- 3 medium Carrots(peeled and diced)
- 2 medium Parsnips(peeled and diced)
- 1/2 medium Celery root (celeriac)(peeled and diced)
- 2 medium Parsley root(peeled and diced)
- 1 large Onion(chopped)
- 1 medium Bell pepper(diced (optional))
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2 Bay leaves
- 1 tsp Black peppercorns
- to taste Salt
- 1/2 cup Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
- for serving Sour cream
- to taste Vinegar or lemon juice
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Place the chicken in a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
- 2
Add the bay leaves and peppercorns. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- 3
Remove the chicken from the pot, let it cool slightly, then debone and cut into bite-sized pieces. Strain the broth and discard solids.
💡 Tip: Reserve some broth for a richer soup if desired. - 4
Return the strained broth to the pot. Add the diced carrots, parsnips, celery root, parsley root, onion, and bell pepper (if using).
- 5
Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- 6
Stir in the tomato paste and the cooked chicken pieces. Season with salt to taste.
- 7
Just before serving, add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
💡 Tip: Adjust acidity to your preference.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, you can brown the chicken pieces before adding them to the soup.
- ✓Don't overcook the vegetables; they should be tender but not mushy.
- ✓The sour cream and vinegar/lemon juice are essential for the characteristic 'ciorbă' tang.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add other root vegetables like turnips or rutabaga.
- Include a handful of small pasta shapes or rice in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and use vegetable broth.