Unexpectedly delicious, this Lean Dried Apricot, Chicken, and Wild Rice Soup in the slow cooker features chicken, wild rice, sweet onion, butternut squash, and dried apricots. This comforting soup recipe is a cozy dinner option that takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes to prepare and serves 6 people.

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Recipe Ingredients

• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 2 cups (300 g) of peeled, seeded, and cubed butternut squash or 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed (about 3/4-inch [2 cm] dice)
• 2 large chicken breasts, cut into chunks (about 2-inch [5 cm] dice)
• 1/2 cup (80 g) of wild rice
• 6 cups (1,410 ml) of chicken broth
• 1 tsp of organic chicken Better Than Bouillon
• 3 tbsp of mirin or dry sherry
• 1 tsp of ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp of ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1/2 tsp of black pepper
• 1/3 cup (43 g) of coarsely chopped dried unsulfured apricots
• 1 1/2 cups (195 g) of frozen corn

How To Make Lean Dried Apricot, Chicken, and Wild Rice Soup

1. Combine the Main Ingredients: Add the diced onion, cubed butternut squash or sweet potato, chicken chunks, and wild rice to the slow cooker.
2. Pour and Mix the Broth: Pour the chicken broth over the ingredients and stir in the Better Than Bouillon, mirin, ground ginger, allspice, salt, and black pepper.
3. Cook on Low or High: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the butternut squash or sweet potato and rice are tender.
4. Add Apricots and Corn: During the last 20 minutes of cooking, stir in the chopped dried apricots and frozen corn to ensure they are well mixed into the soup.
5. Finish Cooking and Serve: Let the soup cook for the remaining time. Once finished, serve warm and enjoy your hearty, flavorful meal.

Recipe Tips

• For a richer flavor, try adding 1 tbsp of lemon juice during the last 10 minutes of cooking. It enhances the apricots’ sweetness and balances the soup’s overall flavor profile.
• Substitute the wild rice with brown rice or quinoa for a different texture and nutritional boost. Adjust the cooking time by an additional 15-20 minutes for perfect doneness.
• Add 1/2 tsp of smoked paprika for a subtle smoky flavor that complements the chicken and apricots. This variation can give the soup a deeper and more complex taste.
• For added creaminess, stir in 1/2 cup of coconut milk or heavy cream after the cooking time ends. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving to blend the flavors.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

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