Creamy Hen Noodle Soup Recipe

Creamy hen noodle soup is the culinary equal of a well-worn sweater: acquainted, forgiving, and immediately soothing. This model leans on good approach so it tastes prefer it simmered all afternoon, but it’s prepared in about 25 minutes. A traditional mirepoix units the bottom, however we commerce onions for scallions and use them two methods. The sunshine elements are softened in butter for light sweetness, and the darkish greens folded in on the finish for freshness. A fast flour-based roux brings physique, so a modest quantity of heavy cream goes a great distance. The key ingredient is white miso, whisked in with the roux, including savory depth and quiet complexity whereas it melts into the broth with out shouting miso.

Broad egg noodles cook dinner immediately within the pot, enriching the broth with simply sufficient starch whereas absorbing taste. Torn cooked hen, comparable to rotisserie hen, works superbly and retains this soup weeknight-friendly. The result’s velvety and comforting, with tender greens, springy noodles, and a broth that tastes nostalgic but new. 

That is the sort of soup that matches each season. You may make it rapidly after work, or throw it collectively on a sick day, or make a giant batch for serving over the weekend. It reheats like a dream and invitations riffs, comparable to leftover turkey, the addition of peas or spinach, or a Parmesan cheese rind thrown in whereas simmering for further richness. Nevertheless you personalize it, this soup ensures a creamy bowl in file time. 

The advantages of a roux

A roux is a thickener made by cooking fats and flour collectively, creating starches that swell and add silky physique to sauces and soups. On this recipe, butter coats the scallions, carrots, and celery, then flour is stirred in with white miso and garlic. The combination is cooked, stirred always, till browned and aromatic. Broth is then whisked in, dissolving the roux so the soup simmers to a velvety, creamy consistency with out tasting heavy.

Selfmade versus store-bought hen broth

Selfmade hen broth sometimes has a fuller physique and cleaner taste since you management the bones-to-water ratio, aromatics, and simmer time. It additionally accommodates pure gelatin that provides a silky mouthfeel and a richer end. 

Retailer-bought broth is handy and constant, however can style saltier, sweeter, or flatter relying on the model, and sometimes lacks the identical collagen-backed texture. Select low-sodium broth so you’ll be able to season later. For this soup, both works, simply style and alter salt after including miso and cream.

Notes from the Meals & Wine Check Kitchen

• Use white (shiro) miso; darker miso can overpower the soup and add extra salt.
• Prepare dinner noodles simply to al dente as they’ll proceed to melt barely because the soup rests.
• If the soup thickens on standing, loosen with heat broth or water 1/4 cup at a time.

Instructed pairing

2023 Joel Gott Unoaked Chardonnay California. A vibrant, unoaked Chardonnay mirrors the soup’s creaminess with out including heaviness, providing citrus and apple notes that refresh between bites. 

This recipe was developed by Jasmine Smith; the textual content was written by Breana Killeen.