Best Puerto Rican Chicken Soup Recipe

It seems like the cold days are here to stay and that can only mean one thing: it is the perfect time of the year to stay cozy in the kitchen trying new Spanish recipes.

We know that Spanish soup recipes always have a special glow during this season, but here we want to talk about a soup that is a blend between two different cultures: the Puerto Rican chicken soup (Spanish-style).

Keep reading this article and you will learn how to make Puerto Rican chicken soup, and how to store and serve this dish, alongside some helpful tips for ingredient replacements that you can make.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Spanish cabbage soup

• Spanish baked bean soup

• Spanish Black bean and corn soup

Background of the Dish

The Puerto Rican chicken soup was born thanks to a blend between different cultures and the version that we all know and love today is a fusion of indigenous Taíno, Spanish, and other Caribbean flavors.

In the 16th century, Spanish settlers arrived in Puerto Rico and brought with them ingredients such as rice, garlic, and onion, and more precisely the classic Spanish chicken soup recipe.

As exchanges became more regular, people from Puerto Rico added their flavor to this traditional recipe, with the help of regional spices, and that’s how the Puerto Rican chicken soup was created.

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Things You’ll Need for Puerto Rican Chicken Soup

To prepare this Puerto Rican chicken soup you need chicken, rice, chicken broth, bell peppers, onion, olive oil, garlic cloves, and a mix of spices.

Ingredients

• 750gr chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup (60ml) tomato sauce
• 8 cups (2l) chicken broth
• 1 cup (200gr) long-grain white rice
• 1 onion
• 2 bell peppers 
• 2 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

How to Make Puerto Rican Chicken Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this Puerto Rican chicken soup recipe, you have to cut the chicken into small pieces, removing the skin, bones, and fat. You can also ask your butcher to sell you boneless and skinless tights.

2. After that, grab a separate cutting board (to avoid cross-contamination), and peel and chop the vegetables into small squares. Also, peel and mince the garlic cloves.

3. Now, season the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cumin. In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken pieces until it is golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside.

4. Using the same pot, add another tablespoon of olive oil. Add chopped onions, bell peppers, carrots, and celery. Cook until those vegetables are softened.

5. To continue with this Spanish soup recipe, stir in minced garlic, cumin, dried oregano, and smoked paprika. Cook for 2 more minutes

6. Then, return the cooked chicken to the pot. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaf, and chicken broth. Bring the Puerto Rican chicken soup with rice to a boil.

7. After that, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

8. Now stir in the rice and continue simmering until the rice is cooked, for about 20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning of the Puerto Rican chicken and rice soup with salt and pepper if necessary.

9. To finish this Puerto Rican chicken rice soup recipe, you just have to pour it into bowls and serve it warm.

Substitution of Ingredients

Something that we love about this recipe for Spanish soup is that as long as you have chicken, you can prepare it, so keep an eye on the following ingredient substitutions that you can make.

First, you can prepare this Puerto Rican chicken soup with any cut of chicken of your choice, or you can go for another type of meat that is extremely popular in both regions: pork.

Instead of rice, you can turn it into a Puerto Rican chicken noodle soup, just make sure to use thin noodles (any kind) and adjust the cooking time so they don’t end up mushy.

You can prepare this Puerto Rican style chicken soup with your favorite vegetables, but the ones that we listed in this article are the original ones for this dish.

If you don’t want it to be spicy or you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand, then you can prepare the classic Spanish chicken soup with rice or take a different route with the Spanish bread soup.

And when it comes to chicken soups, we delight you with an easy gluten-free chicken noodle soup recipe or chicken soup without noodles.

Tips on Serving Puerto Rican Chicken Soup

Since the Puerto Rican chicken soup has a high content of protein (chicken) with some carbs (rice) and veggies, it is one of the most complete meals that you can find.

You can enjoy it at lunch or dinner and one soup plate is the perfect amount for each serving.

To take it to the next level, you can top this Puerto Rican chicken soup with shredded cheese or with fresh chopped herbs such as rosemary, dill, or cilantro.

For this holiday season, you can fill your table with the best Spanish soups, and some that go well with this one are the Spanish ham and bean soup and the Spanish black bean soup.

How to Store Puerto Rican Chicken Soup

When we say that Puerto Rican chicken soup is the best soup recipe for this winter, we’re not just referring to its simplicity or the fact that it requires few ingredients. Another thing that makes it shine is that it can be stored for a long time.

Once you finish making the Spanish chicken soup Puerto Rican style you have to let it cool to room temperature, and then you can place it in a covered container.

Cover the container with its lid, but also with plastic wrap on contact with the top of the soup so that it doesn’t form a crust on top, you can place it for 2 days in the fridge or 35 days in your freezer.

To thaw, place it in the fridge overnight or for 12 hours, and then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave (one or two portions at a time in that case).

Other Spanish soup recipes that you can prepare and store for a similar amount of time are the Spanish bean soup, the Spanish white bean soup, and the Spanish 5 bean soup recipe.

Recipe Card: Puerto Rican Chicken Soup

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