Consume de Pollo

When I was in college, I spent two consecutive summer breaks studying in Cuernavaca, Mexico. While there, I lived with a host family, Familia Alvarez. They taught me so much about Mexican culture and food. Mi Madre would make consume de pollo served with sliced avocados, chopped cilantro and freshly squeezed lime wedges from her garden. She told me limon verde brings out the flavor in food.  I also came across consume de pollo while staying at a spa in Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico. At the Ixtapan Spa, the meals are calorie controlled and consume de pollo is served daily.  Don't question why aren't there noodles or rice; the soup is delicioso.

ingredients

2 cups of homemade chicken broth

1/2 avocado, sliced lengthwise

1 tablespoon cilantro, roughly chopped

1 lime, juiced 

preparation

Ladle broth into a bowl, add avocados and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges. Squeeze the fresh lime thoroughly over the soup. Enjoy! 

Homemade Chicken Broth

ingredients

1 organic and kosher chicken, washed ( I use Kosher Empire)

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

1 bay leaf

1/2 head of cabbage

2 stalks of celery, chopped in half

1 medium yellow onion, halved

2 carrots, peeled and chopped in half

1 parsnip, peeled

1 garlic clove, peeled

5 sprigs of parsley

1 teaspoon of salt 

preparation

In a large soup pot (3qt), place chicken and add about 10 cups of water covering the chicken. Bring to boil over high heat.  Boil for about 20-25 minutes or until a layer of foam rises to the top. Remove from heat. Drain and rinse the chicken and pot or you can skim the layer with a spoon. The layer of foam is impurities and fat. Return chicken to pot and add 10 cups of water covering the chicken. Put all ingredients into the soup pot, bring to boil, reduce heat and let it simmer for about 1 hour.  Let the stock and chicken cool before straining and storing. Enjoy!