Cock-a-leekie Soup

An authentic Scottish recipe from www.clans.org.uk

Serves 8 people.

Ingredients

3lb boiling chicken without giblets.
3 slices of fatty bacon (streaky).
1lb of shin of beef.
2 lb leeks.
1 large onion.
5 floz whisky.
4 pints water.
1 tablespoon dried tarragon.
salt and pepper.
8 prunes (soaked till soft).

Method

• Mix the tarragon, sugar, water and whisky together (marinade).
• Chop the bacon.
• Place the chicken, bacon and beef in a large bowl.
• Pour on the marinade from step 1.
• Leave to soak overnight.
• Place the chicken and its marinade in a large soup pot.
• Chop all but one leeks, plus the onion and add to the soup pot.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for two hours.
• Remove the chicken from the pot, remove all meat and chop to small pieces.
• Return chopped chicken to the pot.
• Cut up the shin of beef and return to the pot (or serve separate).
• Chop the saved leek, and add this along with the prunes.
• Simmer for another 15 minutes to disperse the prune flavour.

Recipe listing . .