Sopas Filipino

So I’ve never made this before, but its been on my list of to do’s. While I didn’t quite have all the right ingredients, I managed to pull it off going by memories from childhood. Sopas is a staple comfort food—macaroni chicken soup, in the Philippines. Made of the simplest ingredients in less than an hour time.

Whilst at the grocery store, Sopas was a soup I had in mind to make, however, I didn’t think things through with regards to the ingredients.  With the mindset that I had most of the things I needed at home, I only picked up a few items such as carrots, milk, and chicken broth.  Moreover, I started to grab a celery bunch…but honestly, I only needed a stick, so I skipped the celery all together.

As I was gathering all the ingredients (mis en place), I noticed that I didn’t have cabbage, and I didn’t have elbow macaroni.  I purposely didn’t buy boneless chicken, as well,  because I had some wings defrosted the night before.

What I did have was an elevated form of elbow macaroni, and some lettuce!  So with these substitute ingredients in hand, I was ready to make some soup!

*Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, mashed (with skin is okay)
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 carrot Julienne, or (cut into quarter circles)
  • 1 lb chicken wings or (boneless chicken thigh, cubed)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cabbage chopped (I managed to substitute this ingredient with lettuce!)
  • 1 cup regular milk, or 3/4 cup evaporated milk
  • salt and pepper to season

*All ingredients are organic, unless noted otherwise.

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Directions
  1. Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the garlic, and onion, then cook for up to 3 minutes.
  3. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes, or until the skin is slightly crispy brown.
  4. Pour in the regular milk or (evaporated milk), and the chicken broth, then bring to boil for about 20 minutes.
  5. Add the macaroni, stirring occasionally for another 8 minutes or until the pasta has soften.
  6. *Add the cabbage, and carrots.  Continue to simmer for up to 2 minutes.
  7. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Recipe Note:  If you want to try lettuce, as a substitute for cabbage, like I did.  I added it in at the very last minute.  BTW, the flavor was amazing using lettuce!