Snow, Snow, Go Away…
Good for the soul and so comforting when it’s cold. There’s some magic in this here bowl.
We’ve grown tired of winter, as we always do by this point in the season. And it’s nowhere near over. We’re also tired of passing around the cold and flu bug. But since we can’t control the weather, we have to focus on ways to ease its stress on our lives.
Enter Instant Pot chicken soup… and a little something unexpected.
New tool = fewer aches
Just one week after Nelson told me he was ready to invest in a snow thrower, he texted me at work with exciting news. He’d entered a contest with a local radio station and he won! … a snow thrower! (bet you saw that coming)
If you’ve ever had to shovel snow… like really shovel often… then you’ll understand how happy we are. These days, Nelson offers to go clear the snow. That’s new.
What’s the saying…”Many hands make light work”. In this case it’s less about the hands and more about the blades and engine.
But, we’ve still had enough of winter.
A nice change to a classic bowl of goodness
Who doesn’t love a nice warm bowl of soup on a cold day? And when you’re feeling under the weather, a little TLC and a bowl of chicken soup can make you feel so much better.
Nelson’s made lots of traditional chicken noodle and chicken rice soups, but this time, he was craving something different. He added beans, spinach, and some sweet carrots. Mmm… success. This soup is really flavourful. So good for you, and yes, oh so comforting.
And thanks to our Instant Pot, it was ready super fast. As fast as it was to clear our driveway with our new snow thrower. 😉
Stop bringing it on… I was kidding
At the start of every winter I talk a big game. I think I’ll be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws my way.
But let me be real here… that only lasts until Christmas time. Then I start thinking about how nice it was when we didn’t have to put on our winter gear and brush the snow off our cars before being able to get out of the driveway. Oh how I’m missing the warm weather.
However, we do love where we live, so we have to stop complaining and make the most of it. For this family, we choose to stay indoors when possible, and for Nelson it means he chooses to make more hearty meals, especially soup.
Whether you enjoy the cold and snow, or you prefer hibernation, like us, this soup is sure to make you feel all warm and cozy inside. Soup’s on… eat well, friends.
This chicken soup is really flavourful! It’s good for you, it’s delicious and it’s perfect comfort food for cold winter days.
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 cans white kidney beans (1080 ml or 38 fl oz all in), rinsed
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes
- 2 dry bay leaves
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 4 packed cups spinach
- Limes cut into wedges for squeezing when plating
-
Plug in the Instant Pot and set it to the sauté setting.
-
Heat the olive oil for a couple of minutes.
-
Add the onions and garlic. Sauté until the onion starts to look translucent (about 2 to 3 minutes).
-
Set the Instant Pot to Manual, for 10 minutes, on high (follow your unit’s instructions).
-
Add the remaining ingredients, except for the spinach and lime. Add them in the listed order.
-
Close the lid and steam valve (sealing).
-
The Instant Pot will now build pressure. This took 15 minutes for us. This process can very a little depending on how full the pot is. Expect 12 to 18 minutes before the 10 minute timer starts. The Float Valve goes down, and is level with the lid
-
Once the 10 minutes cooking time is complete, do a natural pressure release for about 10 minutes (NPR). Then finish the process with a quick release (QR).
-
Open the lid.
-
Use two forks to pull apart the chicken (like pulled pork).
-
Add the spinach. Rest the lid (without closing it) on the Instant Pot for about 5 minutes.
-
The spinach leaves will start wilting. Use a ladle to mix all the ingredients.
-
Serve hot with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!
- Feel free to add other favourite veggies.
- You can add a little more or less chicken if your package isn’t exactly 1 1/2 lbs.
Looks yummy! Can’t wait to try it! Do you think I can use chicken breast instead of thighs?
Hi Jeanette, thanks for stopping by our blog! You could use chicken breasts. I used thighs because I find them more flavourful and tender. Chicken breasts would be a healthier option. If you try the recipe, let us know what you think. Take care.