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Romanian Peasant Chicken Soup

Name: Romanian Peasant Chicken Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Romanian
Ingredients: 1 free-range chicken or 1 kg chicken pieces (back, wings, thighs); 3–4 litres cold water; 1 tsp coarse salt; 2 carrots, sliced into rounds; 1 parsnip, diced; 1 parsley root, diced; 1 small celeriac (or ¼ of a large one), diced; 2 medium onions, one whole for boiling, one chopped for sautéing; 2 medium potatoes, diced; 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (or 200 ml tomato juice); ½ red bell pepper, chopped; 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped; 1 bunch fresh lovage (or dried); 500 ml sour borscht (or lemon juice to taste, approx. 3–4 tbsp); 2 tbsp sunflower oil; salt and pepper to taste; 2 egg yolks; 100 ml sour cream

Romanian peasant chicken soup is one of the most beloved dishes of traditional Romanian cuisine. Made with free-range chicken, seasonal vegetables — carrot, parsnip, parsley root, onion — and soured with borscht or lemon juice, this nourishing and flavorful soup is the perfect remedy for any day.

🍽️

Servings

⏱️

Prep

20 min

🔥

Cook

1 h 30 min

⏰

Total

1 h 50 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Meat and base

Vegetables

Souring and finishing

Optional — for enriching

📝Preparation steps 🗓️Add to Meal Planner🎨Serving & Presentation

✅Dietary Compatibility

🌾Gluten-free🥩Low-carb / Keto💪High-protein🥦Clean eating🫒Mediterranean

🍽️

Yield

Approx. 3 litres soup (6 generous servings)

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Keeps in the refrigerator in a covered pot for up to 3 days; reheat gently without boiling

🧊

Freezer

Can be frozen for up to 3 months (without the egg yolk enrichment); thaw slowly in the refrigerator

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per 400 ml serving (without sour cream enrichment)

🔥

Calories

180 kcal

🥩

Protein

20 g

🧈

Fat

7 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

10 g

🌾

Fiber

2 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Homemade or sourdough bread

🥂Full-fat sour cream

🥂Pickled hot peppers

🥂Polenta (mămăligă)

🥂Dry or light white wine

💡Variations

Chicken soup with homemade noodles: add 100 g homemade noodles in the last 10 minutes of cooking for a heartier soup.

Chicken and rice soup: add 80 g rinsed rice together with the vegetables for a more filling dish.

Egg and cream enriched soup: use the full enrichment (egg yolks + sour cream) for a creamier, richer soup.

Fasting version: replace the chicken with mushrooms and white beans for a light fasting soup.