SOPA DE POLLO CON ARROZ (CHICKEN AND RICE SOUP)

Steps:

• Extract giblets from chicken and remove the liver.
• Place chicken in a pot of water just large enough to hold it.
• Cover with 1-2 quarts of water and add the giblets.
• Add salt and bring to a boil, skimming off any foam.
• Reduce heat, cover pot, and simmer for 20 or more minutes.
• Chicken should fall apart after cooking.
• Completely bone out the cooked chicken.
• Separate white meat for use in the finished soup.
• Crack the bones and return them to the stock with the skin.
• Add all other non-meat parts of the chicken back to the stock.
• Bring stock and giblets back to a fast simmer.
• Cook stock for 1/2-1 hour longer.
• Begin washing rice.
• Strain stock and remove most, but not all of the fat.
• Peel the potato, tomato and carrots.
• Bring stock to a boil and reduce heat.
• Cut carrots into coins, dice potato into 1/2" cubes and add with cabbage cut into 1" chunks.
• Chop onion coarsely and add along with pressed or finely minced garlic.
• Remove strings by breaking the top of the stalk backwards and pulling down to strip them out, slice celery into medium pieces and add.
• Peel and seed tomato, strain tomato juice from seeds and add with chopped cilantro leaves.
• Chop some of the celery heart's leaves and add with diced chicken white meat in 1/2" chunks.
• Finish washing rice and add to soup.
• During last half hour of cooking add all other spices.
• Adjust salt to taste (this recipe can take a lot of salt).
• Avoid adding too much cumin, it will spoil the flavor.
• DO NOT let the soup boil, it will turn to mush.
• DO NOT use the chicken liver in the soup.
• When the rice begins to "bloom" turn off the heat.
• Elbow macaroni, stars or alphabet pasta may be used.
• If using pasta, omit or reduce the amount of rice.
• If the stock is made right it will gel when chilled.
• Note: This recipe took years to figure out.
• DO NOT use chicken bullion cubes or paste when making this.
• They will cloud the soup and destroy its delicate bouquet.
• Tinned broth is acceptable but will not compare to using the stock described above.