It is an easy chicken soup to make because you can prepare all the vegetables in advance, chill them, then warm at the last minute in stock. If you’re not a fan of broth the recipe doubles up perfectly well as a vegetable salad and so you can dress it instead with some mayonnaise or salad dressing instead.

For the beetroot element, I used some roasted beetroot that I had cooked the night before. However the vacuum packed, precooked version that you find in many supermarkets nowadays is perfect because it has already been peeled.

The recipe serves 4.

• 4 chicken fillets
• 2 lemons
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
• 12 new baby potatoes
• 2 carrots
• 1 small turnip
• 1 medium beetroot
• 1 handful of fresh broadbeans
• 4 radishes
• 3 scallions/spring onions
• chive flowers to decorate
• 250ml chicken stock

Equipment:

• 2 small chopping boards (you need 2, trust me)
• 1 sharp knife
• 1 vegetable peeler
• 1 medium saucepan
• 1 griddle pan
• 1 large freezer bag
• 1 large plate for cooling the vegetables on
• Spray oil for the griddle pan

1. Take your chicken fillets and rosemary then put them into the freezer bag .
2. Cut the lemons in half & squeeze their juice directly into the bag, seal the bag and leave to 1 side.
3. Fill the pot with water, place the baby potatoes inside and bring to the boil. Once boiling turn down to a simmer for 8 minutes.
4. Meanwhile peel your root vegetables (carrot & turnip) then cut into small squares. You can slice if you like but make sure that they are all equal size.
5. Using the other chopping board, do the same with the beetroot. Once finished with the beetroot leave it to 1 side and wash your knife!
6. Your potatoes should be ready by now so drain the pot and put the potatoes on the plate to cool a bit.
7. Refill the pot with water and the broadbeans. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 4 minutes.
8. Drain the pot and cool the broad beans before podding them to remove the tough outer skin.
9. Refill the pot with water and the chopped root vegetables. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 4 minutes.
10. After 4 minutes, drain and leave to cool on the plate.
11. Spray the griddle pan with oil and put on a medium setting to heat up.
12. Wash and dry the pot.
13. Fill the pot with the stock then place on a low heat to warm through.
14. Open the freezer bag and shake the chicken fillets to get rid of any excess lemon juice which would burn on the griddle.
15. Place the chicken on the griddle one by one.
16. Start chopping the “raw” salad vegetables (radishes & spring onions).
17. Cook the chicken for 7 minutes on each side, then check to see that they are cooked through. If not, cook for longer. Check by cutting them in half – it doesn’t make a difference as this is how you serve it.
18. Serve the broth by arranging your vegetables in the bowl, then pour the warm stock over, with the chicken on top.

This recipe, and more, is available on Wholesome Ireland.

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