Savory Chicken Quinoa Soup Recipe - A Hearty and Delicious Meal

Ingredients

• 3 cups of water
• 1 cup of quinoa
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil (divided)
• 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cubed)
• Salt and ground black pepper to your liking
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 1 cup of chopped celery
• ½ cup of finely chopped red bell pepper
• ½ cup of finely chopped yellow bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 8 cups of delicious chicken broth
• 2 cups of chopped fresh spinach leaves
• ½ teaspoon of flavorful dried marjoram
• ½ teaspoon of aromatic dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon of fragrant dried basil
• ½ teaspoon of crushed bay leaf
• ⅓ cup of cornstarch
• ¼ cup of cold water

Step 1

Begin by bringing 3 cups of water and quinoa to a gentle boil in a saucepan. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer until the quinoa reaches a tender consistency, usually around 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2

Next, in a Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, warm up 1 teaspoon of flavorful olive oil. Add the chicken and season it with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center, approximately 5 minutes. Once done, transfer the chicken to a waiting plate.

Step 3

In the same Dutch oven, add the remaining teaspoon of olive oil and adjust the heat to medium. Toss in a colorful mix of onion, carrots, celery, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic. Stir and sauté until the veggies turn soft and fragrant, which usually takes about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Now, it's time to introduce the chicken broth into the Dutch oven. Add in fresh spinach leaves, along with a blend of aromatic marjoram, oregano, basil, and a bay leaf. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle boil, then lower the heat to let the flavors meld together, usually around 10 minutes. Stir in the cooked quinoa and return the chicken to the pot, letting it warm through for about 2 minutes.

Step 5

For a final touch, dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup of cold water in a small bowl. Gradually pour this mixture into the Dutch oven, stirring occasionally as the soup thickens, which typically takes around 1 minute. Enjoy this hearty and flavorful dish!