How I Make Homemade Chicken Soup|Jamaican Style|THE RAINA’S KITCHEN

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of making homemade Jamaican-style chicken soup. This hearty dish features flavorful ingredients like yellow yam, pumpkin, dumplings, and more, perfect for a comforting meal any day of the week.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

Collect the following fresh ingredients for your chicken soup:

• 2 pounds of chicken (bone-in chicken breast recommended)
• 2 pounds of pumpkin (not Halloween pumpkin)
• 2 Irish potatoes
• 1 white sweet potato (bonita)
• Yellow yam (half a piece)
• Chocho (chayote squash)
• 2-3 carrots
• 2-3 stalks of scallion
• Fresh thyme
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional for heat)
• Chicken soup mix (without noodles)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Dumpling dough (see Step 4)

Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables

• Peel and Cut: Peel the yellow yam, Irish potatoes, sweet potato, and chocho. Cut them into manageable pieces.
• Prevent Oxidation: To keep the yam from browning, place the peeled pieces in a bowl of water. Adding a bit of lime juice can help retain their color.
• Chop the Pumpkin: Cut the pumpkin into chunks, leaving some larger pieces to thicken the soup later.

Step 3: Season the Chicken

• Seasoning: In a bowl, season your chicken with a tablespoon of chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Flavor Infusion: Allow the chicken to sit and absorb the flavors while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 4: Make the Dumplings

• Dough Ingredients: Combine the following to create your dumpling dough:
  • 2 cups of flour
  • ½ cup of fine cornmeal
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • Water (enough to achieve a non-sticky dough consistency)
• Kneading: Knead the dough until smooth, then cover it with a damp paper towel and let it rest.

Step 5: Cook the Soup

• Boil Chicken: In a large pot, add the seasoned chicken and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat for approximately 15 minutes.
• Add Vegetables: After 15 minutes, add the chopped pumpkin, carrots, scallions, thyme, and scotch bonnet pepper. Stir and let it boil for another 15 minutes.
• Crush Pumpkin: As the soup cooks, you can crush the pumpkin pieces to thicken the soup and enhance its flavor.

Step 6: Incorporate Remaining Ingredients

• Add Remaining Vegetables: After 30 minutes of cooking, add the yellow yam, sweet potato, chocho, and any other vegetables you like.
• Add Dumplings: Drop in the prepared dumplings and allow them to cook in the soup for about 10-15 minutes.
• Finish with Noodles: If desired, add noodles to the pot (using any brand you prefer) and let simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Your homemade Jamaican chicken soup is ready to enjoy. Serve it hot, possibly with some water crackers or rice if you prefer. This dish is comforting and flavorful, perfect for any rainy day or whenever you're in the mood for a hearty meal. Enjoy your cooking experience, and don't hesitate to tweak the recipe based on your preferences!