There is something special about a homemade chicken soup. It is simple, nourishing, and made with ingredients that come together to create a comforting meal. In Felipe Carrillo Puerto, home-cooked dishes like this are part of everyday life, bringing families together around the table.
For this month’s recipe, Doña Hilaria, a former Na’atik host mother, shares how she prepares her chicken and vegetable soup. Made with fresh vegetables, aromatic spices, and tender chicken, this traditional home-style dish is easy to prepare and full of flavor. Each person can also add their preferred amount of chile to make it their own.
Ingredients
Chicken pieces, including breast, leg, and wing
2 carrots
1 chayote
1 small piece of cabbage
1 onion
2 tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
Mexican oregano, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 or 2 whole cloves
1 bouillon cube, such as Knorr Suiza
Water, as needed
Salt, to taste
Lime, for cleaning the chicken, if desired
For the optional chile:
Fresh habanero peppers
Red chiles
A little oil, if needed for toasting
Preparation
1. Prepare the chicken.
Clean the chicken and prepare it for cooking. Doña Hilaria washes hers with lime before placing it in a pot of water.
2. Bring the chicken to a boil.
Place the chicken in a pot, cover it with water, and bring it to a boil. As foam and impurities rise to the surface, skim them off with a spoon to keep the broth clear.
3. Prepare the vegetables and seasonings.
Wash and chop the carrots, chayote, and cabbage. Chop the onion and tomatoes, and peel the garlic. Keep the oregano, black pepper, cloves, and bouillon cube ready.
4. Add the vegetables and seasonings.
Once the chicken has been skimmed, add the vegetables and seasonings to the pot. Stir gently, cover, and allow everything to simmer together so the flavors can develop.
5. Let the soup cook.
Continue cooking until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the vegetables are tender. The vegetables may take around 20 minutes, depending on their size. Add hot water if needed to maintain the broth.
6. Check that everything is ready.
Pierce a piece of vegetable with a fork to check its tenderness, and make sure the chicken is fully cooked before serving.
7. Prepare the optional chile.
For those who enjoy a little heat, toast the habanero or red chiles and grind them into a paste. Serve separately so everyone can season their own bowl according to taste. Doña Hilaria prepares the chile separately, allowing everyone to choose how much spice they want.
Serve and Enjoy!
Serve the chicken and vegetable soup hot, with plenty of broth, chicken, and vegetables in each bowl. Add chile according to your preference, and enjoy a comforting homemade meal inspired by Doña Hilaria’s kitchen.
For some members of the Na’atik team, this dish is more than just a recipe. Once a week, Doña Hilaria prepares meals for some of our staff members, sharing the same home-cooked food and care that make her kitchen so special. Her cooking is a wonderful reminder that food brings people together and creates connections that go beyond the table.
To learn more about Na’atik’s English language program for local and Indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, visit our Impact Page. We are only able to provide this much needed program thanks to the support of generous donors and the funds raised from our award winning Maya and Spanish Immersion Program. If you would like to support our mission please consider donating today or take a look at our immersion programs and online class packages.