Portuguese Chicken Soup Recipe (Canja De Galinha Sopa)

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This traditional Portuguese chicken soup recipe also referred to as Canja de galinha sopa, Portuguese Lemon Chicken Soup, and Portuguese Chicken and Rice soup is a popular dish from Portugal, Azores, and Brazil. This Portuguese chicken soup recipe (Canja de galinha sopa), is super easy to prepare and make, and believe it or not, only requires 5 ingredients, water, chicken, onion, salt, and rice.

I love, love, love this Portuguese canja chicken soup, it’s delicious and cozy, warm and simple, and gluten-free since it’s made with rice instead of pasta. We always eat it with a splash of lemon juice from freshly squeezed lemon.

Canja de galinha Portuguesa is probably one of the most eaten soups amongst the Portuguese, Azorean, and Brazilian people, not only is it an everyday soup, this Portuguese soup is served during celebrations and weddings. I would say it’s just as famous as their green soup Calde Verde which is made with chorizo, collards, or kale.

I’ve been making this gluten-free Portuguese chicken soup with rice for years for my family and recently learned an interesting fact about it. For decades and generations, the Portuguese canja recipe has been used as a home remedy to treat cold and flu symptoms, and apparently, it works. If you talk to any Portuguese including my husband, they will tell you just that.

Ready to make this classic Portuguese Chicken Soup Recipe (Canja De Galinha Sopa)? Let’s do it!

Ingredients To Make Portuguese Chicken Soup (Canja De Galinha Sopa)

• 4 liters water (17 cups)
• 1 large onion ( cut into large peices)
• 6 chicken thighs
• 1 cup of short grain rice (or Portuguese par-boiled rice)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 lemon sliced in quarters ( for serving)

How To Make Portuguese Chicken Soup (Canja)?

1. Add the chicken, onion, water, and salt, into a large pot.

2. Cook on medium-high for about 50 minutes.

3. Pour the rice into the chicken broth and stir.

4. Cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. If you notice the chicken soup is too thick, add another cup or two of water, stir, and cook just until hot. I added 1 extra cup of water.

5. Serve with a squeeze of lemon. Enjoy!

Portuguese Chicken Soup Recipe (Canja)

This traditional Portuguese chicken soup recipe also referred to as Canja de galinha sopa, Portuguese Lemon Chicken Soup, and Portuguese Chicken and Rice soup is a popular dish from Portugal, Azores, and Brazil.

5 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Azorean, Brazilain, Portuguese

Servings 4 people

Calories 600 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 4 liters water 17 cups
• 1 large onion cut into large peices
• 6 chicken thighs
• 1 cup of short grain rice or Portuguese par-boiled rice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 lemon sliced in quarters for serving

Instructions

 

• Add the chicken, onion, water, and salt, into a large pot. Cook on medium-high for about 50 minutes.
• Pour the rice into the chicken broth and stir. Cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. If you notice the chicken soup is too thick, add another cup or two of water, stir, and cook just until hot. I added 1 extra cup of water.
• Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
• Enjoy!

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