Name: Cuban Chicken Soup Fiesta Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 2 carrots, sliced; 2 potatoes, diced; 1 ear of corn, cut into chunks; 1 chicken thigh, bone-in; 6 cups water or broth; 1 tsp cumin; 1 bay leaf; Salt & pepper, to taste; Lime wedges; Fresh cilantro

Description

Cuban Chicken Soup Fiesta is a hearty and flavorful soup combining tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and traditional Cuban spices. This comforting dish features a medley of sautéed aromatics, simmered with chicken thighs, potatoes, carrots, and corn, garnished with fresh lime and cilantro for a bright finish. Perfect for a cozy family meal, it offers a delicious taste of Cuban home cooking with simple, wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup Base

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, chopped

Vegetables & Chicken

2 carrots, sliced
2 potatoes, diced
1 ear of corn, cut into chunks
1 chicken thigh, bone-in

Seasonings & Broth

6 cups water or broth
1 tsp cumin
1 bay leaf
Salt & pepper, to taste

To Serve

Lime wedges
Fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Sauté the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and green bell pepper. Sauté until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Add Vegetables and Chicken: Add sliced carrots, diced potatoes, corn chunks, bone-in chicken thigh, cumin, and bay leaf to the pot. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
Simmer the Soup: Pour in 6 cups of water or broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 45 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken thigh from the pot. Using two forks, shred the meat, discarding the bone and skin. Return the shredded chicken back into the soup pot.
Season and Serve: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro for added brightness and flavor.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs for breasts, but thighs provide more flavor and tender texture.
Using broth instead of water enhances the soup’s depth of flavor.
Add other vegetables like zucchini or tomatoes for variation.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
For a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños during sautéing.