Bbbrrrrrr, it is so cold outside. This winter has been quite strange. Up until a couple of weeks ago our winter had been quite mild, just the way I like it. December came, then January ended and not one cm or mm of snow had fallen in Prague. February started and I was wondering if Prague would get any snow this winter. I was enjoying the mild winter and waiting for the first snow fall with mixed feelings. Then bam! Europe fell under a blanket of snow and freezing temperatures.
We’ve been watching the news of countries all around us having record low temperatures and snow falls. The videos of Rome, Barcelona, and Corsica under thick layers of snow are beautiful but also surreal. The videos of homeless, less fortunate, and news of so many deaths in Ukraine breaks my heart. But Prague, while the temperature is well below the average here, we’ve had no snow. One afternoon I saw a few snowflakes but nothing stuck or lasted. It was only last week that we finally woke up to a little bit of snow. Crazy, what is going on with this weather?
While I may not understand the weather, one thing I do understand is the best way of keeping my belly warm and full. Crazy weather like this means soup or stew should be on the stove. Let me tell you this soup is exactly what you need to stay warm until the spring comes. (Hopefully that will be soon.) The main flavor in the soup comes from smoked chicken quarters. Have you ever tasted smoked chicken? It is quite good. Of course it taste like smoked meat but leaner and softer then smoked pork. When it comes to soups or stews dark meat is the only way to go. A boring plain chicken breast will not give enough flavor to the broth. The meat out of the package was tender and pink, and yes it was cooked through. Once the meat simmered for a while it turned a darker pink color, similar to pork.
Another major part of this stew are the vegetables and Adzuki beans. First let’s talk about the beans. Adzuki beans are ity-bity red beans that come from East Asia and the Himalayas. They are also know as Azuki or aduki, all names that come from Japanese. They are commonly sweetened with sugar and used in Asian cuisine. Think red bean ice cream, diafuki, moon cakes, etc. I love Adzuki beans because they cook fast. Plus their slightly red bean taste is a great addition to savory dishes. The vegetables in this soup are standard winter root vegetables. For a little more color contrast I added Savoy cabbage, which could also be replaced with Kale. Lastly for a little extra flavor I added a tad of fresh rosemary, which complimented the rest of the ingredients well.
And here is how you make this hearty warming soup:
(If you would like to publish my recipe on your website please contact me first. I don’t bite :)
Smoked Chicken, Vegetable and Adzuki Soup
Ingredients for 4 servings:
2 small potatoes, peeled & roughly chopped
1 small onion, roughly chopped
1 stalk celery, including leaves, roughly chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled & roughly chopped
6 small leaves of Savoy Cabbage or Kale, finely sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup Adzuki beans
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
2 smoked chicken quarters, skin removed and meat off the bone
6 cup low sodium vegetable broth, no MSG
2 small bay leaves
1/2 sprig of fresh rosemary
salt and pepper to taste
1. In a large pot heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat. Once warm add onions and cook until soft, next add the celery and carrots cooking for 3 minutes. Next add the potatoes and minced garlic, cook for 3 minutes stirring often. Next add the savoy cabbage or kale, beans, chicken meat, bay leaves, rosemary, salt, pepper and vegetable broth to the pan. Give it a good stir, turn heat to medium low, cover and simmer for about on hour. Checking on the soup now and then, and giving it a stir. After one hour remove lid, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Simmer another half hour, allow to cool before serving.
I served our soup with a rustic style homemade bread. (The recipe will be posted on Friday). The soup was delicious, very filling, warm and exactly what we need for this weather. The smoked chicken added a slight smokiness to the soup but without overpowering the rest of the ingredients. The root vegetables and beans complimented the smoked chicken perfectly. This soup may have come together as a way of using up leftover ingredients but it is definitely a soup I will be making again very soon.
Baby its cold outside, so here are some more soup and stews recipes to help keep you warm:
– Soups On! Tomato Cream Soup
– Baharat Spiced Beef Stew (A Wacky Stew)
– Somen (Nyumen) Miso Soup, Ready in 10 Minutes
– Goulashesque Chicken Stew
– Italian Minestrone – Vegetarian by SPCookie Queen (tastes awesome, I made it last weekend)
– Azuki Bean Soup with Sage,Chamomile and King Oyster Mushrooms by The Ardent Epicure
– Rosemary & Garlic Tomato Soup with Cheesy Focaccine by Tasty Trix
– Organic Adzuki Bean Miso Soup by My German Kitchen … in the Rockies
What is your go-to soup or stew during the winter? Feel free to leave a link in your comments, if you like.
A wonderful soup! I wish I could find smoked chicken here….
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa. I think any smoked meat would also work lovely.
Good to the last drop for sure. I’ve seen smoked turkey at my grocery store but not smoked chicken.
Hi Sandra, Thank you! Smoked turkey would also work great.
I’m sure this soup is out of this world delicious! Your photos are so gorgeous and professional! So eye pleasing! Oh yes, the weather is crazy everywhere.
To be honest, I don’t usually enjoy the soups I make, but I love soups and I better start trying fabulous recipes like this one you posted :)
Hi Renata, Thank you! You’re right it is just a crazy weather year.
Wow, what a gorgeous, comforting soup!! We’ve had the same wacky weather…snow yesterday, then thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow.
Thanks Liz! Wow, that is crazy weather.
This looks so good! What a combination of flavors especially with the Kale. Leafy greens are amazing for our health! Great job putting this soup together and photos are exceptional. Over here in Miami it has been hot but that doesn’t mean we can’t eat some soup ;)
Hi Natalie, Thank you! I wish Europe had a little bit of that Miami warmth :)
It is in the 70’s here again and we had snow just a few days ago. That mix is definitely trying to get us all sick. Your soup does look amazing, it has such a great variety of ingredients, but the smoked turkey I think is really the flavor burst! Stunning pictures as usual. Enjoy the day!
Stay warm and healthy Tina. Thanks you, but it is smoked chicken in my recipe. Though smoked turnkey would also taste great.
We’ve had some cold days in between mild one here too. I’m quite happy about the no snow… I think it’s all overrated. LOL! This soup looks so satisfying and healthy. I was introduced to Adzuki beans when I was watching a British show called “You are What you Eat with Gillian McKeith” She loves the stuff and I had to go to Whole Foods to finally find it. I’ll be thinking of making this soup the next cold day we have around here. :)
Lol! I generally don’t mind the snow, it is the cold grey days that I don’t like. So glad you went out and bought something new to try. Let me know if you try it and I hope you enjoy it.
I love azuki beans, though I’ve mostly had them in sweet dishes. This soup sounds delectable, and looks so rich :) I adore your photography!
Hi Kiri, Its funny because I don’t like them in sweets :) Thanks sweetie!
mmm, such a pretty, healthy soup. keep warm out there!
Thanks Anna!
I wish I knew from where I could get smoked chicken breast pcs. It must be coming out so well the smokyness in the soup with the veggies and the adzuki beans. I am going to make this soup today since I was planning anyway on cooking a soup, but I ll have to use normal chicken unluckily. Its soo windy and cold here, brrr (+20 celcius). I wouldnt survive a european winter, pls let spring come. I dont want to end up in europe in snow and ice. O.O
Hi Helene,
Too bad you can’t find smoked chicken, any smoked meat available there? If not I am sure you will still make it taste delicious :) Lol, +20c that’s a heat wave! You would not be dealing with this winter too well so hopefully spring will come soon.
Nancy, your versatility and creativity with this ingredient is astonishing. The chicken, vegetable, adzuki soup is a culinary and aesthetic masterpiece. I feel warm and cozy just looking at it! As everyone has come to expect, your presentation and photography are impeccable too.
Bonjour Viviane! Thank you for your sweet words :)
Adzuki beans are delicious and I am sure this soup is fantastic. Looks so good for a gloomy day like today
Thank you! Perhaps you can make yourself a little pot then :)
I have been reading all about the weather being all crazy in Europe (okay been crazy here, but more because it has been so mild) glad to hear you all are faring okay in Prague in comparison to your neighbors. Anyhow, even though it has been mild here, it is starting to get a bit more chilly and this soup would be perfect! Looks absolutely delicious!
Hi Amy, Thank you :) I hope you can keep warm with this soup then. Have a great weekend.
That looks really, really delicious! I have never heard of Adzuki beans, but I must look into it… Sounds great! :) And Nancy, your pictures blow me away… They are just BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sharing :)
Hi Marsha,
You should look the beans up and perhaps give them a try. They can be cooked in sweets or savory dishes. Thank you for your sweet words :) Have a great weekend!
As you mentioned, I’ve never had azuki in savory dish (minus azuki rice), this soup is very interesting to me. I wonder why we don’t really use azuki for savory food like soup. Mystery… Your soup looks so delicious, and such a perfect look!
I also wonder Nami, they are quite good savory too. Thanks :)!
Perfect soup for a cold winter’s day, your soup looks delicious and comforting.
Thank You Norma! It does do the trick on those cold days.
What a beautiful and warming soup! Love all the goodies here and these are really my favorite bean I think, well next to plain old black :)
A truly beautiful combination of flavors, some serious comfort food :) And thanks for including my soup on your list…hugs
Now that I think about it, you have shared a few recipes with Adzuki. All of them delicious too! Thanks & abrazos!