Name: Chicken Mulligatawny Soup with Sweet Potato & Spinach
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 52 min
Yield: 8 people
Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs (skinless); 250 g sweet potato (peeled, cubed); 70 g spinach; 70 g basmati rice (rinsed); 60 g red lentils (rinsed); 1 bay leaf; 2 allspice (whole); 1 onion (finely chopped); 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped); 1 tbsp fresh ginger (finely chopped); 1.5 tsp curry powder (any); 1 tsp cumin, turmeric powders (each); 2/3 tsp coriander powder, chilli flakes, onion seeds (nigella) (each); 350 g tomato passata; 850 ml chicken or vegetable stock (hot); 3 tbsp vegetable oil

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This chunky chicken mulligatawny soup with sweet potato and spinach is a real winter warmer. Hearty, nourishing and full of spice, it makes a delicious lunch or light meal. The post also includes instructions for making vegetarian mulligatawny.

When I was preparing this post I compared several chicken mulligatawny soup recipes and found them all very different from one another. Some were pureed, others chunky, some contained rice, while others didn’t. The only common factor were the curry spices.

Which means that you can make mulligatawny soup using your favourite spices, vegetables, or simply whatever you happen to have in your pantry.

My version of this delicious curried soup contains sweet potato as well as spinach.

Mulligatawny soup ingredients

Mulligatawny soup recipes often include carrots and white potatoes, but in this recipe I decided to use sweet potato instead. It tastes similar to carrot and is the healthier cousin of white potato, so there was simply no need to use either carrots or ordinary potatoes. Plus using only one vegetable means that there is less chopping involved!

The spice mixture produces a mild tasting mulligatawny but you can used more chilli flakes or hot curry powder to add more heat to this recipe.

I included fresh spinach in the recipe for its nutritional value, but also because it tastes delicious paired with tangy, sweet flavours. So it adds complexity to the overall flavour. I recommend stirring it in towards the end of cooking in order to preserve its flavour and vibrant colour.

You might also like 4-ingredient loaded spinach sweet potato skins as well as roasted sweet potato and spinach soup.

How to make chicken mulligatawny soup: step-by-step

1.In a large pot heat up the oil, add the spices, chopped garlic, onion and ginger, stir and cook over a medium heat for 3 minutes.

2. Push the onion mixture to the sides, add the chicken pieces and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Add a little stock, cover and bring to the boil then simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Add the sweet potato, a little more stock, cover and cook for 5 more minutes.

4. Add the rice, lentils, passata and the remaining stock, cover and bring to the boil again then simmer for 15 minutes stirring often.

5. Remove from the heat, take out the chicken and separate the meat from the bone. Place the pot back on top of the stove, add the spinach, cover and cook for 3 minutes.

6. Remove from the heat, place the chicken back in the pot, adjust the seasoning and serve.

Top tips for making mulligatawny soup

Use either 4 skinless chicken thighs or drumsticks or 2 chicken legs. I do not recommend using chicken breast as it becomes dry after prolonged cooking.
The recommended spice mixture produces a mild tasting soup but you can add more chilli flakes or hot curry powder for more heat.
Best served immediately.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. If the soup thickens after a while add a drop of water and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Freeze for up to 3 months.

How to make vegetarian mulligatawny soup

It’s very easy to make this soup vegetarian. And it also takes a little less time to make than the chicken version. Simply omit Step 2 and follow the rest of the instructions.

Serving suggestions

This easy chicken mulligatawny soup is a meal in itself and can be enjoyed as is. Though you could add a dollop of thick yogurt or drizzle of coconut milk to it if you like. You might also like to serve it with a bit of mango chutney or lime pickle.

Check out also this collection of 13 healthy, easy one pot chicken recipes.

You may also like this collection of over 12 creamy vegan soups.

Keep in touch

Have you made sweet potato chicken mulligatawny? I’d love to know how it turned out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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