🇭🇺 Hungarian Chicken Soup (Magyar Csirkeleves)

📝 Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 1.5 kg / 3–4 lbs), cut into pieces
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 parsnips, sliced
• 1 small celery root or 2 stalks, chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1–2 tsp salt (to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp Hungarian paprika
• 1–2 bay leaves
• 150g (1 cup) small pasta or homemade dumplings (optional)
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the broth

• Place chicken pieces in a large pot.
• Cover with cold water (about 2–3 liters / 8–12 cups).
• Add salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
• Bring to a boil and skim off any foam.

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2. Add vegetables

• Add onion, carrots, parsnips, and celery.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45–60 minutes until chicken and vegetables are tender.

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3. Add paprika and garlic

• Stir in paprika and garlic.
• Simmer for another 5 minutes.

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4. Add pasta or dumplings (optional)

• If using pasta or dumplings, add them to the simmering soup and cook until tender.

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5. Serve

• Remove chicken, shred the meat, and return to the soup.
• Garnish with fresh parsley.
• Serve hot with bread.