Rustie Lee's saturday soup
Comforting, wholesome and packed full of flavour - Rustie’s in the kitchen with Caribbean sunshine in a bowl with her recipe for Saturday Soup - a traditional Jamaican dish with dumplings to warm these cold January nights.
Rustie Lee’s Saturday Soup
Serves: 6
Ingredients
For the chicken4-5 chicken leg quarters, skin removed and cut into pieces OR 6-8 skinless chicken thighs, bone in2 tsp salt1 tsp all-purpose seasoning1 tsp mixed herbs2 litres water400ml can coconut milk (optional)
For the vegetables240g diced pumpkin or butternut squash200g sweet potato, peeled and diced2 medium size potatoes peeled and diced200g yam, peeled and diced420g tin sweetcorn1 carrot, sliced in chunks200g cho cho (chayote), diced1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper
Seasonings1 small onion, diced2 spring onions, chopped1 tbsp fresh grated ginger2 garlic cloves, chopped2 tsp black pepper2 tsp allspice6-8 sprigs of fresh thyme
For the Dumplings (Spinners)130g plain flourPinch of saltWater, as needed to form a dough50g chicken noodle soup powder
Method
1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, all-purpose seasoning, and mixed herbs.
2. Bring 2 litres of water (and coconut milk if using) to the boil in a large pan. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and let them cook for about 15-20 minutes.
3. Add all the vegetables to the pan, then stir in all the seasonings. Stir well and let the soup cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
4. To make the dumplings, combine the plain flour and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Gradually add water and knead to form a smooth, firm dough. Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them between your palms to form elongated dumplings, known as spinners.
5. Gently add the dumplings to the pot along with the chicken noodle soup powder. Let the soup simmer for another 15-20 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld together.
6. Remove the thyme sprigs before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and make sure each serving has a mix of chicken, vegetables, and dumplings. Enjoy this Soup as a comforting weekend meal!