Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup

Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup

This is hands down one of my favorite soups! It’s right up there with Zuppa Toscana and has a great bite to it from the white pepper this recipe calls for from Food.com.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 medium  sweet onions
  • 12medium  green peppers
  • 8 stalks celery
  • 8 -10 medium  carrots
  • 8 medium sized potatoes, roughly diced
  • 10 -12 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 quarts chicken stock
  • 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2(28 ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup of chopped parsley
  • 2 Tbsp white pepper (this is what gives the soup its kick, so if you don’t prefer a spicy soup, halve this amount or add according to taste)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp black pepper 
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp salt 
  • 2 lbs ditalini, as needed when serving or other small pasta of choice

Directions

  1. In a large stockpot (16 quart minimum / 20 quart recommended), heat olive oil medium-low to medium heat.
  2. “Sweat” onion, celery, green pepper, and some salt (to draw off moisture) for about 30 minutes — this is lower than browning and makes the veggies somewhat translucent. Cover and mix every few minutes to prevent browning.
  3. Add carrots, garlic, some white pepper, and some black pepper and continue to heat under “sweat” conditions while mixing now and then.
  4. Add chicken stock, chicken breasts, tomatoes, potatoes, and more white and black pepper. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours.
  5. Remove chicken and let stand to cool to shred.
  6. Add chopped parsley to pot and return the shredded chicken to the soup.
  7. Salt to taste and add more white and black pepper if desired.
  8. Simmer while cooking ditalini (or other pasta).
  9. Serve soup over cooked pasta to taste.
Perfect Instant Pot Rice

Perfect Instant Pot Rice

After searching for what seems like forever for a tried and true way of making rice, this is it! I found this recipe from Green Healthy Living and it’s foolproof! I use this recipe for all types of rice and it has really upped my chicken fried rice game.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice (any kind will do-adjust cooking time according to rice type listed in directions below)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

  1. Rinse rice thoroughly using a fine mesh strainer. Add all ingredients into the Instant Pot. Double, triple or quadruple all ingredients in same amounts if a larger portion is desired.
  2. Make sure sealing ring is placed properly in lid, add lid, turn shut and turn knob to sealing position.
  3. Cook on high pressure for the number of minutes instructed below depending on the type of rice:
    • White Rice (Basmati or Jasmin): 3 minutes
    • White Sushi Rice: 5 minutes
    • Brown Rice (Basmati): 22 minutes
    • Short Grain Brown Rice: 24 minutes
    • Red Rice: 30 minutes
    • Wild Rice Blend: 28 minutes
    • Wild Rice: 30 minutes
    • Black Pearl Rice: 30 minutes
  4. Natural Pressure Release until pin drops. Takes on average 9-12 minutes (max. 18 minutes for 1 cup and max 30 mins for 4 cups).
  5. Remove all rice from pot immediately to avoid it sticking to the bottom. If needing to keep warm, leave rice in pot after natural pressure release without opening the lid to avoid steam being released and drying out the rice, which makes it stick to the bottom.