Description
A comforting and hearty creamy chicken and rice soup made with tender shredded chicken, creamy cannellini beans, microwave rice, and nutritious leafy greens, flavored with garlic and onion, and brightened with a hint of lemon zest. Perfect for a cozy meal that comes together quickly on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 800ml chicken stock
Main Ingredients
- 2 chicken legs, skin removed and meat shredded
- 400g can cannellini beans, with their water
- 250g microwave rice
- 50g leafy greens, roughly chopped
Finishing Touch
- ½ lemon, zested
Instructions
- Heat the oil and soften the onion: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion with a generous pinch of salt and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften and turn translucent.
- Add garlic and cook: Stir in the finely chopped garlic cloves and cook for an additional 2 minutes, allowing the garlic to become fragrant but not browned.
- Add broth and main ingredients: Pour in 800ml of chicken stock, then add the shredded chicken meat from 2 skinless chicken legs, the 400g can of cannellini beans along with their liquid, and 250g of microwave rice.
- Simmer and mash: Cook the mixture for 10 minutes to allow flavors to combine and ingredients to heat through. Use a potato masher to roughly mash some of the beans and rice, creating a chunky yet thickened texture for the soup.
- Add greens and finish cooking: Stir in 50g of roughly chopped leafy greens and cook for another 5 minutes until the greens are wilted and tender.
- Season and serve: Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Just before serving, sprinkle the soup with the zest of half a lemon to add a fresh bright flavor.
Notes
- Using microwave rice speeds up the cooking time, but you can substitute with cooked white rice if preferred.
- Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or Swiss chard work well in this recipe.
- Shredding the chicken in advance makes the cooking process faster and easier.
- Mashing some beans and rice creates a creamy texture without the need for cream or dairy.
- Adjust seasoning after adding lemon zest as it enhances the overall flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: chicken soup, creamy soup, rice soup, healthy soup, one pot meal, quick dinner, comforting soup, cannellini beans
