Quinoa, Kale, and Chicken Soup
Quinoa, kale, chicken, and white beans combine in a hearty soup that serves as a healthy remedy to this bitterly cold winter.
I know everyone is sick of hearing about how frigid it is this winter, so I’ll skip all the whining and jump straight in to talking about this soup. The soup contains all sorts of good-for-you ingredients, so there’s no guilt in indulging in a big bowl of it after shoveling the driveway for the third time in a week. Sorry, I said I wasn’t going to talk about the weather…
It’s no surprise at all that we loved this soup. In fact, I’ve made it the past two Sunday nights for us to have to take in our lunches throughout the week. While kale and quinoa are two of my favorite ingredients, our friend Michelle despises both. I wish we still lived in Boston so I could bring her a bowl of this and hopefully change her mind about quinoa and kale.
I adapted this from a crockpot recipe and just made it on the stovetop. If you want to see the crockpot version, be sure to click through to the original recipe.
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Quinoa, Kale, and Chicken Soup
Quinoa, kale, chicken, and white beans combine in a hearty soup that serves as a healthy remedy to this bitterly cold winter.
Yield: Serves 6-8
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
~1.5 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 leeks, chopped and thoroughly washed
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 spring rosemary, chopped
4 cans chicken broth
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 can white beans (such as cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
1 bunch curly kale, chopped after removing ribs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1.5 Tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper for seasoning
shredded parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
bread for serving (optional)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degF.
Cut the chicken breasts in half and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
Put chicken in the oven and set the timer for 25 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, heat a tablespoon of oil in a dutch oven or stock pot. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, celery, and leeks. Cook until the vegetables start to soften, 5-7 minutes. Add the rosemary and garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, quinoa, and beans. Set heat on high and cover with a lid. When the soup begins to boil, reduce heat to med-low and continue to simmer.
When the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and allow to cool a few minutes. Chop the chicken in to bite sized pieces.
Stir the chicken, kale, parsley, and lemon juice into the soup. Taste soup and season with salt and pepper if desired. Allow to cook another 2-3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty bread.
Recipe from Beantown Baker, inspired by Cooking Classy
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Love these, I could eat the whole batch myself. So much healthier than the boxed crackers, that have all those ingredients I can’t pronounce!
beantownbaker — January 16th, 2013 @ 5:27 pm
I completely agree. We avoid processed foods as much as possible. I was glad to find a snack that Hubby loves so much and is *so* easy to make at home.
These cheez its are stunning looking! They must be very cheesy and crispy! I really need to make this for my husband soon!
beantownbaker — January 17th, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
They definitely are! Hubby convinced me to make more this weekend already 🙂
looks delicious – how do you think this would work with other cheeses? I’m thinkin’ pepper jack…
beantownbaker — January 18th, 2013 @ 2:29 pm
I would think other cheeses would work pretty well. I wouldn’t use anything too soft, but pepper jack should work. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
These look fantastic. Great photos. I’m going to make some this weekend. Please check out the food blog I have just started http://www.surreyKitchen.wordpress.com. Thanks!
beantownbaker — January 21st, 2013 @ 3:24 pm
Let me know what you think of them if you do make them!
I HATE pickles. They are awful, but I definitely love cheese crackers. I especially love white cheddar cheez-its 😉
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 2:27 pm
You should definitely make these then – they’re seriously so good!
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 8:34 pm
I don’t even eat my french fries that touched the pickle at restaurants. And I LOVE french fries!
I have always thought making your own crackers would be too much work. Your version looks straightforward and delightful. I’m sure the taste is worth all the effort!
beantownbaker — January 23rd, 2013 @ 10:27 pm
I agree, it was definitely much easier than I would have guessed. My sister, who never bakes, has already made these twice!
I don’t like fries that touched pickles either! Not only do they then taste like a pickle, but they get soggy and I prefer crunchy fries!
Um… Cheez-Its are one food I cannot have around. Once I open the box, I pretty much eat the whole thing. I love this homemade version!
Hello! I am more of a baker than a cook, so I was very nervous about what to make for my boyfriend’s Superbowl party! Found this recipe, and just made it! SUPER easy! I am really impressed by how much it tastes like a cheez-it… but better! I like this recipe and hope to try it with other cheeses! Thanks!
PS. I did use the silicon baking mat and that made it a lot easier. Good point to follow!
beantownbaker — February 3rd, 2013 @ 9:45 pm
So glad you enjoyed them!! I’ve already made them a handful of times with various cheeses and spices thrown in. They’ve all been delicious.
Oh my.Jen you done it.My little girl loves cheez it.I throwed the cheddar cheese(little bite size) once, don’t know what to make with it .I wish i had seen this earlier 🙁
Any was can we make these with bite size cheese sticks.?
MyKitchenOdyssey
beantownbaker — November 7th, 2013 @ 10:07 am
I’m sure you could use this dough to make any shape you’d like…
Thanks for your reply .I meant the cracker barrel cheese ,Can i use this cheese to bake cheez its.
MyKitchenOdyssey
beantownbaker — November 24th, 2013 @ 5:37 pm
I think any cheese that comes in a block would be fine for this recipe.
Many thanks jen.I will be doing it very soon.
MyKitchenOdyssey