Chicken Masala Soup

Indian spices add warmth and colour to this delicious dish, which is a cross between a soup and a stew. A steaming bowlful topped with a dollop of thick natural yoghurt and a sprinkling of chopped fresh coriander is sure to please.

Serves 2

1 small onion, chopped, or 30 ml/2 tbsp frozen diced onion
1 garlic clove, crushed, or 5 ml/1 tsp garlic purée (paste)
2.5 ml/½ tsp ground coriander
2.5 ml/½ tsp ground cumin
1.5 ml/¼ tsp ground turmeric
1.5 ml/¼ tsp ground ginger
250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup very hot (not boiling) chicken stock
225 g/8 oz chicken breast or mini chicken fillets
200 g/7 oz/small can of chopped tomatoes
100 g/4 oz fresh or frozen green beans, halved
½ x 400 g/14 oz/large can of chick peas (garbanzos), drained and rinsed
15 ml/1 tbsp fresh or frozen chopped coriander (cilantro)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


  1. Put the onion, garlic, ground coriander, cumin, turmeric and ginger in the ceramic cooking pot and turn the slow cooker on to Low.
  2. Pour the stock over, cover with the lid and leave for a few minutes while measuring and preparing the rest of the ingredients.
  3. Cut the chicken into 2 cm/¾ in wide strips. Add to the pot with the tomatoes, beans and chick peas. Re-cover with the lid and cook for 3-5 hours or until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are cooked. Stir in the chopped coriander and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Spoon half of the soup into a bowl or freezer container and leave to cool. Ladle the rest into a warm bowl and serve straight away with chapattis or naan bread.


Second serving
Either cover the cooled soup and chill in the fridge for the following day, or freeze for up to a month. If frozen, allow to defrost in the fridge overnight. To serve, heat gently in a saucepan and allow to bubble for a few minutes until piping hot.


Cook's tips
To save time, use 7.5 ml/1½ tsp of your favourite curry powder or paste instead of the individual dry spices.
Extra vegetables may be added, if liked, such as diced courgette (zucchini) or canned or frozen sweetcorn.