Why do we crave comfort food? When we think about comfort food, most think about a food that was a childhood favorite or reminds us of home. When we are reminded of home, we feel the familiarity and soothing element. If they make us feel the sense of familiarity and soothing, we tend to crave more of these foods to be reminded. As I was thinking about my favorite comfort food, I saw a recipe for chicken noodle soup and I remembered that feeling of familiarity and soothing whenever I would have it growing up. Below is a recipe.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 large carrots, sliced
- 4 stalks celery, chopped
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 4 cups shredded chicken breast
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Preparation
- Heat the olive oil until shimmering over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are very soft, about 15 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the stock and bring to a boil.
- MAKE AHEAD: Do not add the noodles or parsley. Cool and refrigerate the soup in an airtight container for four days, or in the freezer for up to two months. Reheat on the stove and add the noodles and parsley just before serving.
- Add the noodles and cook for 6 minutes, then add the chicken and cook about 2 minutes more, until the noodles are cooked through and the chicken is warmed through.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the parsley.
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Written by Kara D., Undergraduate Intern 2023
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