Caldo de Pollo for the Soul



The weather has cooled quite a bit, which can only mean one thing...Fall has arrived! Cooler weather just makes me want to curl up on the couch, with a blanket, a good book and a bowl of hearty soup.

One of my favorite soups is Caldo de Pollo (chicken soup). The Mexican way to prepare it is very simple. My grandmother always prepared her caldo de pollo with chicken drumsticks and whole carrots and potatoes. I prepare mine with a skinles, whole chicken, cut in pieces with a wide variety of veggies cut in large chunks.

Caldo de Pollo
(Chicken Soup)

Ingredients:

  • 1 whole, skinless chicken, cut up
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 whole onion
  • 1 sprig of Cilantro
  • Onion
  • Carrot
  • Chayote
  • Green Beans
  • 3 ears of corn
  • Potatoes
  • Zucchini

Directions:
Place chicken in a 3 or 4 quart stockpot, with 2 quarts of water. (About 8 cups.) Add celery stalk, garlic clove, onion and cilantro to chicken. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ground 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Cover stockpot, and bring chicken to a boil over high heat.

While the chicken is cooking, cut the veggies into large chunks.

Once the chicken has come to a boil, carefully add the vegetables. Season broth with additional salt, if necessary. (About 1/2 to 1 teaspoon.)

Let chicken and vegetables simmer in a covered stockpot, over low heat until chicken and vegetables are fully cooked. (About 60 to 90 minutes.)

To serve, ladle chicken, vegetables and broth into a bowl. Squeeze fresh lime juice over caldo de pollo. Serve with plenty of warm corn tortillas. Enjoy!!!






Printable Recipe

For more soul warming caldos (soups) you might also like:
Arroz con Pollo Soup
Cocido Rojo (Mexican Beef Stew)
Mole de Olla 

23 comments

  1. Does it get cold in Mexico?? How cold?

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  2. Crystal,
    It depends on what part of Mexico you'll be visiting. Anything north of Mexico City, get very cold, even snow in some parts. Where will you be visiting?

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  3. For real? That's IT for the seasonings? COOL! I thought I had to have some special who-knows-what to go in chicken caldo, and now I'm thinking not! Chicken soup here I come :) Thanx for another human-actualy-CAN-do recipie Leslie! :)

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  4. Gringa,
    Unbelievable, but that is it for the seasonings. On occasion, I'll add a bay leaf or 2, but I don't always have fresh bay leaves available. I hope you enjoy your Caldo de Pollo!

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  5. oooh, I make this for my husband whenever he feels down and misses Mexico! He eats 3 bowlfuls...

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  6. ....and I also forgot to add how attractive your food always looks! mine is always good, but I was never very good with presentation...

    muy delicioso!

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  7. Leslie, I will be living in Veracruz, but not on the beach. We will be living inland almost close to the border of another state. It is a ranch called buena vista, close to Jesus Carranza. I hope it does not get too cold there. What do you think??

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  8. Hi Leslie,
    I had a little extra time and wanted to stop over and see how things are going. WOW! You have done a beautiful job over here. You are so talented and your attention to detail is evident. I'm so thrilled to see how well things are going for you. Give your family a big hug and kiss from me and if you ever need anything from the states, don't hesitate to let me know, it would be a pleasure to send it to you.
    Cheers!
    Tina

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  9. thank u soo much for this recipe i love it!!!!!

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  10. Thanks Leslie for the recipe..I am making this in about 1.2 hour.

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  11. OMG! I was looking all over for recipe caldo de pollo. I came across your blog. I love it this is what I've been looking for.

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  12. Hi! I just had to say that I made this earlier and it was divine! Exactly how I remember my grandma making it long ago. Thank you so much for sharing it!

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  13. Hi Leslie,
    I've been searching all over for good mexican recipes. I don't cook. My mom wasn't a very good cook. We always moved as a kid and as a busy working adult I never cooked for myself or others. I'm very excited to try ur recipes out and finally learn to cook. I have a question for this recipe. My grandmother use to put white rice in. When would I add this in?

    Liz

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  14. Hi Liz! 

    Adding a little white rice is a delicious idea!!!  I'd add the rice in the last 30 minutes of the cooking time and I'd add about 1/4 cup of rice. 

    Hope you like it! :)  

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  15. Hi leslie,
    The caldo de pollo looks so delicious!
    I had one question before I try and make this recipe. Would it be okay if instead of using a whole chicken cut up, i'll use chicken breast with bone? But not use the bone, i'll just pull pieces of chicken off the bone as soon as its done. Is it possible? Will it make a difference?

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  16. We put repollo in ours also! :))

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  17. I am "attempting " this right now! Wish me luck!!

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  18. thanks for the recipe,i made it was delicioso

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  19. Hola Lesli.
    Lo has intentado con un poco de yerbabuena? Creo que asi es el original!
    Saludos.
    A

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  20. Made this today. I gotta admit it turned out delicious. Thanks a million for the recipe. Much love.

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  21. I'm not sure I've ever seen a chayote at my grocery store. What would be a good substitute?

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