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Chanka de pollo
Chanka de pollo: Cochabamba chicken soup with broad beans and herbs
Every Cochabamba market has a corner where chanka de pollo bubbles in huge pots: a clear, herby chicken broth full of broad beans, potatoes and spring onion, with a whole joint of chicken in each bowl and chuño or a boiled potato on the side. It is fresh and grassy rather than rich, sharpened with a little locoto. Many people let it boil hard, which clouds the broth. Chef's tip: add the herbs and spring onion right at the end so they stay bright green.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legsskin removed, about 1 kg
- 2 litres water
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 4 potatoespeeled and halved
- 9 oz broad beansshelled, fresh or frozen
- 4 spring onionssliced
- 1 locoto or other hot chillifinely chopped
- 3 tbsp parsleychopped
- 1 tbsp mintchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 4 chicken legs and 2 litres water in a large pot, bring slowly to the boil and skim off the foam.
15 minStep 2: Add 1 onion, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper and ½ tsp ground cumin. Simmer gently, never boiling hard, for 25 minutes.
25 minStep 3: Add 4 potatoes and simmer until they are tender and the chicken reaches 165°F at the bone, about 20 minutes.
20 minStep 4: Add 9 oz broad beans and cook for 5 minutes until tender and bright green.
5 minStep 5: Stir in 4 spring onions, 1 locoto or other hot chilli, 3 tbsp parsley and 1 tbsp mint and take off the heat. Serve each bowl with a chicken leg, potatoes and plenty of broth.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 40 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chanka de pollo take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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