Sopa de gallina india

The star ingredient of this traditional Salvadoran soup or broth is a free-range, home-raised chicken known as gallina india. With an incomparable, rich flavor due to it being raised in a natural environment and fed on a natural diet, the chicken is typically cooked in water with a variety of chopped vegetables, garlic, herbs, spices, and seasonings. Typical vegetables used in the soup include carrots, onions, pipián (a type of small squash eaten as a vegetable), tomatoes, potatoes, corn, green chilis, and chayote (a green, pear-shaped vegetable), while the most common herbs and spices used in the dish include parsley, chipilín (a leguminous plant), pepper, red pepper, achiote (a type of spice made from the seeds of the annatto tree), and basil. Some versions may also include other ingredients such as rice, small eggs, or even meatballs (called albondigas). Sopa de gallina india is usually enjoyed warm in bowls with the chicken cut into large pieces. After it’s been cooked, the chicken may also be cut into pieces, roasted, and then served alongside the soup.