Caldo de Pollo
Caldo de pollo, a classic Mexican chicken soup, offers a hearty warmth that’s perfect for chilly evenings. With tender chicken simmered alongside vibrant vegetables and aromatic herbs, this comforting dish is not just a meal but an experience that brings family and friends together. Enjoy it on its own or pair it with rice or warm tortillas for a truly satisfying feast.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 6
- Category: Main
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (about 4–5 lbs)
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 10 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Rinse the whole chicken under cold water and pat dry. Remove any giblets.
- In a large pot over medium heat, add a splash of olive oil. Sauté the chopped onions until translucent (about 4-5 minutes).
- Add diced carrots and celery; cook for another 3 minutes.
- Place the whole chicken back into the pot and cover with filtered water.
- Stir in salt, pepper, smashed garlic cloves, and bay leaves.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer for about 1 hour until chicken is tender.
- Carefully remove the chicken from the pot, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and strain any debris from the broth if necessary.
- Serve caldo de pollo in bowls garnished with fresh cilantro alongside warm tortillas or rice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 90mg