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Jamaican Chicken Soup

A classic Caribbean soup featuring tender chicken, pumpkin, and yellow yam simmered in an aromatic broth with handmade spinner dumplings.

65 minMediumServes 6380 cal/serving

CaribbeanSoupStovetopStandardHigh FiberHigh ProteinDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs bone-in chicken thighs, chopped
  • 2 cups calabaza pumpkin, cubed
  • 1 cup yellow yam, cubed
  • 1 cup chayote squash, cubed
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 3 stalks scallions, chopped
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
  • 6 berries allspice berries
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 8 cups water

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.

  2. 2

    Add 1.5 lbs chopped bone-in chicken thighs, 2 cups cubed calabaza pumpkin, 3 minced garlic cloves, 6 berries allspice berries, and half of the 1.5 tsp salt.

  3. 3

    Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the calabaza pumpkin breaks down.

  4. 4

    Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with a small splash of water to form a firm dough, then roll into long spinner dumplings.

  5. 5

    Add 1 cup cubed yellow yam, 1 cup cubed chayote squash, 2 sliced carrots, 3 stalks chopped scallions, 4 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper, remaining 1.5 tsp salt, and dumplings.

  6. 6

    Simmer for 20 minutes until root vegetables are tender and bone-in chicken thighs reaches 165°F internal temperature.

  7. 7

    Discard scotch bonnet pepper and fresh thyme before serving hot.

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Questions

How long does Jamaican Chicken Soup take?

As written, 65 minutes: 20 of prep and 45 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 3 (20 minutes): "Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until the calabaza pumpkin breaks down."

What internal temperature should Jamaican Chicken Soup reach?

For Jamaican Chicken Soup, the target internal temperature is 165 F (about 75 C), given in step 6. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Is there a substitute for allspice in Jamaican Chicken Soup?

The entry for Jamaican Chicken Soup calls for 6 berries allspice berries. In its place: Equal parts ground cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in Jamaican Chicken Soup?

Yes, with care. Breasts dry out sooner: pull them at 165 F, which usually means a few minutes less than the thighs would take. As written, the entry for Jamaican Chicken Soup uses 1.5 lbs bone-in chicken thighs, chopped.

Can I make Jamaican Chicken Soup less spicy?

Yes. The heat in Jamaican Chicken Soup comes from 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper. For a milder plate, remove the seeds and ribs from the scotch bonnet, or use half; nothing else in the method changes.

Can I make Jamaican Chicken Soup gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Jamaican Chicken Soup is 1 cup all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Serve it with

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