SIMMER CHICKEN RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Roughly chop the celery, leeks, onions and carrots. Leaving it unpeeled, bash the half bulb of garlic.
  2. Place the chicken carcasses, garlic, vegetables, herbs and peppercorns in a large, deep-bottomed pan. Add the cold water and bring to the boil, skim, then turn the heat down to a simmer. Continue to simmer gently for 3-4 hours, skimming as necessary, then pass the stock through a fine sieve.
  3. Allow to cool for about half an hour, then refrigerate. Once the stock is cold it should look clear and slightly amber in colour. I usually divide it into small plastic containers at this point and freeze it. It will keep in the fridge for about 4 days and in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Steps:

• 1. For this recipe, you will need 1 higher-welfare roast chicken carcass, with leftover chicken attached.
  2. Peel and roughly chop the onions, roughly chop 2 carrots and celery sticks, then place them in a large pan with the bay leaves, peppercorns, a pinch of sea salt and the chicken carcass.
  3. Fill the pan with cold water so that everything is covered, then place on a high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 hour, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface from time to time.
  4. About 20 minutes before the stock is ready, crack on with the base of the soup: peel the remaining carrots and slice ½cm thick with the remaining celery. Peel and finely slice the garlic and shallots. Pick the parsley leaves, finely chopping the leaves and stalks. Roughly shred the spinach.
  5. Place the butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in another large pan on a low heat, add the garlic, shallots and parsley stalks and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until softened.
  6. Add the carrots and celery and cook for a further 5 minutes.
  7. When the stock is ready, remove the chicken carcass, pull off any remaining pieces of meat and leave to one side, then discard the carcass.
  8. Strain the stock through a sieve into the veg pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
  9. Add the seasonal greens and cook for a further 10 minutes, adding the spinach for the last minute.
  10. Finish the soup by squeezing in the lemon juice, then taste and season to perfection, if needed.
  11. Divide between bowls and top with any leftover shredded chicken, a sprinkling of parsley leaves and a good hit of black pepper.