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Chicken and Pearl Couscous Soup

A comforting soup filled with tender chicken, pearl couscous, and fresh herbs, perfect for chilly evenings and family gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Stock
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 small bunch fresh parsley
  • water enough to cover chicken
  • to taste salt for seasoning the chicken
For the Soup
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for sautéing
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
  • 4 stalks celery, trimmed and diced
  • 1 cup pearl couscous
  • cup fresh dill, roughly chopped plus extra for garnish
  • 1 medium lemon, juiced
  • to taste seasoning salt like garlic pepper, lemon pepper, or herbes de Provence
  • to taste salt and pepper for seasoning
  • for serving Dukkah, oyster crackers, or saltines
  • for garnish extra virgin olive oil

Method
 

Prepare the Stock
  1. Place the chicken thighs in a large pot and generously season with salt. Nestle the parsley sprigs on top and add enough water to cover the chicken.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 2 hours.
Strain and Shred the Chicken
  1. After 2 hours, carefully remove the chicken and transfer it to a bowl. Strain the broth into a clean bowl and discard the parsley.
  2. Shred the chicken meat into bite-sized pieces and add it back into the broth.
Start the Soup
  1. In the cleaned pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the diced onion and celery for about 5 minutes, until softened.
  2. Season with your choice of seasoning salt.
Simmer the Soup
  1. Add the pearl couscous and stir for about 2 minutes to lightly toast it.
  2. Pour in the chicken stock along with the shredded chicken. Bring back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for around 15 minutes.
  3. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Finish the Soup
  1. Stir in the fresh dill and lemon juice. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve
  1. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with extra dill, a drizzle of olive oil, and dukkah or your favorite crackers.

Notes

For a deeper flavor, consider browning the chicken thighs before simmering. Use leftover vegetables for extra nutrients and always taste as you go to ensure proper seasoning.