Carrageenan Free Caldo de Pollo

Total time1 hr 30 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time1 hr 10 min

4.7

(29)

This soul-warming Mexican chicken soup is built entirely from whole, unprocessed ingredients — bone-in chicken, garden vegetables, aromatics, and water — which means there's nothing hidden in the pot that doesn't belong there. For anyone navigating carrageenan, the real challenge is usually store-bought broths, soups, and dairy-adjacent products that sneak the additive in as a thickener or stabilizer. Here, the rich, golden broth comes entirely from simmering chicken with onion, garlic, tomatoes, and black peppercorns, so you know exactly what you're eating. Carrots, chayote, zucchini, corn, and cabbage all go in at staggered intervals so every vegetable hits that perfect tender-but-not-mushy sweet spot. A handful of fresh cilantro and optional mint give the broth a brightness that no packaged soup can replicate. Finish each bowl with a squeeze of lime, a pinch of dried oregano, and a warm corn tortilla on the side, and you have a deeply comforting meal that's as clean as it is satisfying.

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Ingredients

6 servings

3 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or a mix)
10 cups water
1 medium white onion, quartered
6 garlic cloves, smashed
2 medium tomatoes, halved
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
4 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 medium zucchini, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium chayotes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
2 ears of corn, cut into 3 rounds each
½ small head of cabbage, cut into 3 wedges
4 sprigs fresh cilantro
2 sprigs fresh mint (optional)

For serving

lime wedges, for serving (optional)
warm corn tortillas, for serving (optional)
dried oregano, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Place the chicken pieces in a large pot (6-quart or larger) and cover with 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then use a ladle or spoon to skim off any gray foam that rises to the surface, about 3–4 minutes.
2
Add the quartered onion, smashed garlic, halved tomatoes, black peppercorns, and 1 tsp salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover partially, and simmer for 30 minutes.

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