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Brasileiro Chicken Broth

Serves 4 to 6 Soup chicken, Soups

Brasileiro Chicken Broth

Brasileiro Chicken Broth is a staple on Brazilian home tables, prepared with a spirit of generosity and an instinctive touch. It's a dish that embodies the everyday simplicity of family meals, where the broth simmers quietly in the background, coming to life with the addition of hand-measured salt and a confident splash of olive oil. This is the version you'll find in homes across Brazil, lovingly prepared without fanfare, yet central to the meal.

When ladled into bowls, this broth is a warm embrace—rich with the essence of chicken, sweet from carrots, and deepened by the subtle earthiness of bay leaf. A gentle grind of black pepper adds a whisper of heat, perfectly balancing the soothing flavors. It's a broth that comforts and connects, uniting the table with its familiar, heartfelt taste.

Ingredients

  • 700 gchicken pieces
  • 1onion
  • 2carrots
  • 1.8 Lwater
  • 2 tbspolive oil
  • 1bay leaf
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Begin by preparing your aromatics. Peel and roughly chop 1 onion. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and releases a sweet aroma, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to let the onion brown, as this can add bitterness to the broth.
  2. Next, prepare the carrots. Peel and slice 2 carrots into rounds about 1 cm thick. Add the carrots to the pot with the onions. Stir them together, allowing the carrots to begin softening and releasing their natural sweetness into the oil. This step will help build a rich base for your broth.
  3. Introduce the chicken pieces to the pot. Use 700 g of chicken pieces, which can include a mix of thighs, drumsticks, or wings for a more flavorful broth. Stir the chicken with the onions and carrots, ensuring each piece is coated in the fragrant oil. Cook until the chicken pieces are lightly browned on all sides, which will deepen the broth's flavor.
  4. Pour in 1.8 liters of water, ensuring the chicken and vegetables are fully submerged. Add 1 bay leaf to the pot. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer. The broth should be gently bubbling, allowing the flavors to meld without becoming cloudy.
  5. Simmer the broth for about 1 to 1.5 hours. During this time, the chicken should become tender, and the broth should develop a rich, golden color. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface to keep the broth clear.
  6. Once the broth has developed its flavor, taste and season with fine sea salt and black pepper to your liking. Remember, Brazilian home cooking often relies on taste rather than precise measurements for seasoning.
  7. Finish the broth by removing the bay leaf. If desired, you can add a final thread of olive oil for richness. Serve the broth hot, ideally with a side of crusty bread, and enjoy the comforting, communal nature of this Brazilian classic.
Cover of Authentic Brazilian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Brazilian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Brazilian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Brazilian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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