Name: Spring Vegetable Soup with Egg Noodles and Mint
Total time: 4 h
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pices (plus neck and gizzard); 1 medium onion , chopped coarse; 1 medium carrot , chopped coarse; 1 medium rib celery , chopped coarse; 1 bouquet garni; 1 teaspoon table salt; 13 cups water; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 medium onions , diced coarse; 2 medium carrots , diced coarse; 1 medium rib celery , diced coarse; 2 cloves garlic , minced; 4 medium new potatoes , diced coarse; 1 1/2 cups green peas , fresh or frozen (about 8 ounces); 3/4 pound thin asparagus , trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 cup egg noodles (about 2 ounces); 4 ounces fresh spinach , stemmed, cleaned, and shredded; 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves , minced

Spring Vegetable Soup with Egg Noodles and Mint

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

2 hours, plus 2 hours standing

Yield

Serves 8 as a main course

Ingredients

Quick Broth

1 whole chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pices (plus neck and gizzard)1 medium onion, chopped coarse1 medium carrot, chopped coarse1 medium rib celery, chopped coarse1 bouquet garni 1 teaspoon table salt 13 cups water

Soup Base

2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium onions, diced coarse2 medium carrots, diced coarse1 medium rib celery, diced coarse2 cloves garlic, minced

Spring Soup

4 medium new potatoes, diced coarse1 ½ cups green peas, fresh or frozen (about 8 ounces)¾ pound thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces1 cup egg noodles (about 2 ounces)4 ounces fresh spinach, stemmed, cleaned, and shredded¼ cup fresh mint leaves, minced

Instructions

for the quick broth

Bring all ingredients to simmer, skimming foam and fat as it rises to surface. Continue to simmer until chicken is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove and reserve chicken pieces for another use. Simmer broth to blend flavors, about 20 minutes longer. Strain and skim remaining fat. (If desired, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Remove congealed fat before reheating. You can refrigerate broth for up to 5 days or longer, if you bring it to a boil every few days. Or freeze it for several months.)

for the soup base

Heat oil in a large soup kettle. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add quick broth, bring to a simmer, and simmer 1 to 2 minutes.

for the spring soup

With the soup base at a simmer, add new potatoes, peas, asparagus, and noodles and simmer until vegetables are tender and noodles are done, 8 to 10 minutes. Add spinach and simmer 3 minutes longer. Stir in mint. Let stand 2 hours to let flavors blend before serving.