Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup with Noodles)
In short: A clear, ginger-scented Peruvian chicken soup with potatoes, angel hair noodles and a boiled egg, served with lime and hot sauce. It takes about 2 h 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 2 h 25 min
- Total
- 2 h 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 365 kcal
Caldo de gallina is a restorative Peruvian soup, made with an older hen whose bones and meat give a rich, golden broth. Ginger, garlic and onion perfume the pot, and potatoes and fine noodles go in near the end. Each bowl gets a piece of chicken and half an egg, plus a squeeze of lime and hot sauce at the table. Peruvians eat it for lunch, in the early morning, or when they feel unwell.
Instructions
- Put the chicken, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, ginger and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam, then lower the heat and simmer gently, partly covered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours for a hen, or 45 minutes for a regular chicken, until the meat is falling off the bone and reads at least 74°C (165°F).
- Lift out the chicken. Discard the onion, celery and ginger, strain the broth back into the pot and skim off any fat. Season with the salt.
- Pull the chicken from the bones in large pieces, discarding the skin and bones, or leave the pieces whole.
- Add the potatoes to the broth and simmer for 15 minutes, until nearly tender.
- Add the noodles and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until tender. Return the chicken to the pot and heat for 2 minutes.
- Ladle into bowls, top each with half an egg, spring onions and cilantro, and serve with lime wedges and hot sauce.
Tips
- An older hen gives the richest broth but needs the longer cooking time. A regular chicken works in 45 minutes, and adding a few extra wings improves body.
- Cook the noodles right before serving. They keep absorbing broth if they sit, so leftover soup is best with noodles cooked separately.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between gallina and pollo?
Gallina is an older laying hen. Its meat is tougher but its flavor is deeper, so it needs about 2 hours to turn tender. Pollo is a young chicken and cooks much faster.
Can I freeze caldo de gallina?
Yes. Freeze the broth and chicken for up to 3 months, without the potatoes and noodles. Add fresh ones when you reheat.
When do Peruvians eat caldo de gallina?
It is a common restorative soup, eaten for lunch, as an early morning meal after a late night or when someone feels unwell.
How long does it take to make Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup with Noodles)?
About 2 h 45 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 2 h 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Caldo de Gallina (Peruvian Hen Soup with Noodles)?
About 365 kcal per serving, with 38 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 365 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 1350 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
