Ever since my very first pot of this soup that I made, it has been a hit at our family gatherings. This is a good hearty soup for the winter months.
Ingredients
3 cans (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon each dried thyme and dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup celery, thinly sliced
2/3 cup long-grain brown rice
1 package smoked sausage, Andouille sausage is good
8 skinless chicken drumsticks (about 2 pounds) remove skin
It doesn’t have to be drumsticks. I use skinless boneless thighs too.
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 pound medium shrimp, cleaned
1/2 pound fresh okra, sliced
Instructions
In saucepan, bring broth, tomatoes, garlic, thyme, marjoram and cayenne to a boil.
In 5 or 6 quart slow cooker, mix onion, celery, rice, and sausage. Add broth. Tuck in drumsticks, meaty sides down. Scatter bell pepper on top. Cover; cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours, or on high 2-1/2 to 3 hours, until rice has softened and chicken is tender.
Uncover; turn to high. Add shrimp and okra; cover. Simmer 5 minutes until shrimp are cooked and okra is crisp-tender.
Remove drumsticks; remove bones, if desired. Ladle soup into bowls; add chicken to each serving.
Stovetop method:
In 5-or 6-quart covered Dutch oven, simmer all ingredients, except shrimp and okra, for 1 hour, and 10 minutes. Add shrimp; simmer 5 to 8 minutes.
You can also use large shrimp. Okra is optional.
