There is hardly a soup that is as soothing and delicious as a homemade chicken noodle soup. In Germany, like our german potato soup, the so-called Hühnersuppe is a real classic and is often served as a home remedy for colds or to warm up on cold days. With fresh ingredients, tender chicken, and aromatic herbs, homemade German chicken noodle soup brings warmth and comfort to any kitchen. I have been cooking it for years, using my grandmother's chicken soup recipe. It is very easy to prepare and perfect for children and families.
Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
- Chicken - For the best chicken soup, use a whole chicken, weighing 2-3 lbs. It's perfect for making a tasty broth. Alternatively, you can use individual chicken legs.
- Vegetables - We traditionally cook the chicken soup with carrots and celeriac. It doesn’t matter if you use celeriac or celery stalks. My kids also love adding kohlrabi cubes to the soup.
- Noodles - In Germany, there is a large selection of small soup noodles. We like to use shell noodles or star noodles. With alphabet noodles, our chicken soup becomes an alphabet soup. It is a hit with kindergarten children and school beginners. In principle, you can use any type of noodle that is available in your area. It just shouldn't be too big. Small egg noodles are also great.
- Spices - For the perfect chicken broth, we cook the soup chicken with bay leaves and allspice. We also add an onion. These ingredients provide the perfect aroma.
How Is Hühnersuppe Pronounced?
Click below to listen to the correct pronunciation:
How to Make Chicken Noodle Soup
- Cook the chicken with the spices and onion until it separates from the meat. This creates the perfect chicken broth.
- Remove the meat from the bone and chop it up.
- Peel and chop the vegetables.
- Add the chicken to the broth with the noodles and vegetables. Bring the German homemade chicken noodle soup to a boil and season with salt and pepper.
Why Chicken Noodle Soup Is So Healthy
Classic chicken soup with fresh chicken is not only delicious, but also healthy, making it ideal for colds. The amino acid L-cysteine from the chicken is released into the broth, providing an antibacterial effect that strengthens the immune system. In addition, zinc and carnosine provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects that promote the immune system. It is best to enjoy the soup hot, as the steam keeps the mucous membranes moist and acts like a natural antibiotic, inhibiting the spread of viruses in the respiratory tract.
A piece of fresh ginger in the soup boosts this protection even further: it contains essential oils and numerous minerals that also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
German Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 3 allspice berries
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 cloves
- 2 carrots
- 150 g celeriac
- 250 g small noodles
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 peppercorns
- parsley
Instructions
- Put the chicken in a large stockpot with the onion, peppercorns, cloves, allspice and bay leaf. Fill with enough cold water to cover everything well. Add the salt and cook the chicken for 1 hour. Skim off the foam occasionally to keep the broth clear. The meat is done when it can be easily removed from the bone.1 whole chicken, 3 allspice berries, 1 bay leaf, 1 tablespoon salt, 3 peppercorns, 3 cloves
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken, onion, and spices from the pot. Place them on a large plate. Remove the meat from the bone and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- Peel the carrots and celeriac, then cut them into cubes.2 carrots, 150 g celeriac
- Return the chicken, vegetables and noodles to the broth and let the chicken soup cook for about 10 minutes. Finally, season the homemade chicken soup with salt and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.2 carrots, 150 g celeriac, 250 g small noodles, 1 tablespoon salt, parsley
Tim says
I love celery!