Chicken and Corn Soup with Chilli-Mint Salsa

Ingredients for Chicken and Corn Soup with Chilli-Mint Salsa

• 4 jalapeños

• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1 teaspoon (or more) kosher salt

• 1 cup (loosely packed) fresh mint leaves, chopped

• 45ml olive oil

• 1 3-1.8kg whole chicken

• 2.8L low-salt chicken broth

• 4 ears of corn, husked, kernels cut from cobs, cobs reserved

• 1 medium onion, halved lengthwise

• 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise

• 1 medium carrot, chopped

• 1 celery stalk, chopped

• 5 whole black peppercorns

• 3 bay leaves

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 large tomato, diced, lightly salted

• Tortilla crisps

• 2 limes, cut into wedges

• Coarse sea salt (such as Maldon)

Char chillies over a gas flame or under a grill, turning occasionally, until blackened all over (this adds a smoky flavour and makes the skins easy to remove). Let cool. Using a small knife, scrape skin from chillies; discard. Coarsely chop chillies (for a milder salsa, discard seeds).

Make a paste by mincing garlic and 1 teaspoon salt on a work surface, scraping with the side of knife occasionally. Add chillies and finely chop, then add mint and finely chop. Transfer to a bowl; stir in oil. Season with more salt, if desired. DO AHEAD: Salsa can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Return to room temperature before using.

Place chicken and broth in a large heavy pot. Add water just to cover chicken. Bring to a simmer over high heat, skimming the surface occasionally (foam can add bitter flavours to soup; discard it as you skim). Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, continuing to skim surface occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add corn cobs, halved onion, garlic, carrot, celery, peppercorns, bay leaves, and 2 teaspoons salt. Reduce heat to low and simmer until breast meat is just cooked through, 15-20 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a cutting board; let cool slightly. Cut off breast meat; set aside (cooking breast meat longer will make it tough). Return chicken to pot. Simmer over low heat until legs and thighs are cooked through, about 20 minutes longer.

Remove pot from heat. Transfer chicken to a platter; let cool slightly. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into another large pot; discard solids. Shred all chicken meat, discarding skin and bones.

Bring strained broth to a simmer. Add corn kernels and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Add red onion; cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken; simmer, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

Divide soup among warm bowls. Garnish with tomato and tortilla crisps. Squeeze lime wedges over; add wedges to soup. Serve, passing chilli-mint salsa and sea salt alongside.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.