African Fragrant Chicken Soup with Chickpeas and Vegetables
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African Fragrant Chicken Soup with Chickpeas and Vegetables

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Source: cooking.nytimes.com
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil 1 Spanish onion, chopped ½ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¾ teaspoon ground turmeric ½ teaspoon sweet paprika ½ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Pinch of cayenne 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 celery stalks, diced 1 turnip, peeled and diced 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced 1 quart chicken broth 1 ¾ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained ½ cup chopped cilantro, more for garnish 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Lemon wedges, for serving
Directions
1
Heat oil in a large soup pot over high heat. Add onion and salt and sauté until limp, 3 minutes. Add all spices and sauté until they release their fragrance, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté another minute, until darkened but not burned. (If tomato paste looks too dark too quickly, lower heat.)
2
Add celery, turnip and sweet potato and continue to sauté until celery starts to soften, about 10 minutes.
3
Return heat to high if you lowered it, and add broth to pot. Bring to a simmer, then add chicken. Partially cover pot, lower heat to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
4
Add chickpeas and cilantro to pot and continue simmering until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in the lemon juice and more salt if desired, and serve garnished with cilantro and lemon wedges.
Notes
Don't overcook the veg! Cook the chicken longer if you must, but the veg is 15 minutes tops. I added a step I learned from a Nigerian friend. I poured about a 1/2 cup of the chick peas, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cups of the soup - including one chicken thigh - into a blender. I pureed the mixture and added it back to the soup. The puree adds thickness and flavor.