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There’s spicy chicken and rice soup and there’s Georgian spicy chicken and rice soup (Kharcho). This nourishing and reviving soup recipe is heaped with herbs, garlic and chilli; thick with rice and shredded chicken. It’s a hearty one-bowl meal that lifts the winter spirits.
Tomato-based soups are clean-flavoured and revitalising, but sometimes comfort is what’s called for. And that means cream! Creamy chicken and wild rice soup is a cream-based switch up.
January is a long month, often filled with colds and flu. I don’t feel particularly motivated but I gathered my last shred of energy, heaved myself out of bed, and pulled out an age-old granny remedy; chicken soup. But not just any chicken soup, a fortifying, spicy and sour Georgian soup, kharcho.
The health-giving properties of chicken soup are well-known, and having experienced the benefits of kharcho firsthand when I was a child, I had faith in it. So, I got to work putting this nutritious soup together.
And you know what? After a single bowlful, my husband and I both perked right up! So, it is definitely worth sharing this magical, medicinal chicken soup recipe with you.
What’s in Georgian soup kharcho?
Broth The base of this steamy and hydrating soup is chicken broth and crushed tomatoes. For convenience, as I was feeling ill at the time, I fast-tracked the stock recipe, using chicken thighs only, to a speedy 40 minutes. This gave me time to work on the flavours that make kharcho kharcho: herbs and spices.
Herbs There are heaps of fresh greenery in this soup; fresh cilantro (coriander) and peppery parsley. Plus, fresh green chilli. Along with garlic, these three ingredients are whizzed in a food processor to make a bright green, fragrant paste which is sautéed with onion and butter before adding the tomatoes, stock and rice.
Spices This is an affiliate link.Khmeli suneli, meaning ‘dried spices’, is the Georgian equivalent of a curry mix. It contains dried coriander, basil, marjoram, dill, chilli and turmeric and is warming and aromatic. You can mix yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it! Ready-made mixes can be easily sourced online- which is a useful hack if you’re feeling under the weather.
Protein I’ve used nutritious and juicy chicken thighs. They were cooked to tender in the stock and then shredded and added to the soup at the end.
Carbs Rice is a key component of this Georgian soup recipe. It adds budget-friendly bulk and a satisfying bite.
Important recipe tips and notes
- I ate this Georgian soup in its country of origin what feels like a lifetime ago! The uniquely aromatic and spicy flavours of the recipe have always stayed with me.
- Now I’ve adapted the method and found some accessible ingredient substitutions so it can be made by everyday home cooks.
- I’ve used chicken for this Georgian kharcho recipe, but you can use any meat you prefer. Beef ribs are typical, or even duck.
- You’ll find other regional recipes out there that call for walnuts and plums! But I’ve kept this one simple.
- Much of the flavour comes from a dried spice mix called This is an affiliate link.khmeli suneli, it’s easily sourced online in the UK and US.
- As well as in this soup, use your store-bought dried spice mix in meat and fish stews.
- Georgian cuisine is a spicy one! My version of kharcho uses only one deseeded chilli, but feel free to amp it up if that’s to your taste.
What goes with it
The only thing this Georgian soup needs is a sprinkling of finely chopped cilantro to top and a slice of thickly buttered bread on the side. I prefer a tight-crumbed and reassuringly heavy loaf like a homemade rye, a herby rosemary and spelt, or freshly made flatbread.
Storage and leftovers
Leftover chicken and rice soup can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat gently on the stove top, adding a splash more water or stock if the rice has absorbed much of the liquid.
As I mentioned, kharcho is a wellness elixir and soup is a handy freezer fallback when the last thing you feel like doing is cooking. So why not make up a double batch? This soup will keep in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
More soups to try
Spicy Chicken and Rice Soup – Georgian Soup Kharcho
Ingredients
For the stock
- 450g / 1lb chicken thighs
- 5 sprigs parsley
- 5 sprigs cilantro, (coriander)
- 2 This is an affiliate link.bay leaves
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 2 litres / 8 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the soup
- 3 cloves garlic
- 5 sprigs cilantro
- 5 sprigs parsley
- 1 green chilli, deseeded (can use 2 for a spicier soup)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil, or butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 tbsp This is an affiliate link.canned chopped tomatoes, or 2 grated tomatoes
- 100g / 1/2 cup short grain rice
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp This is an affiliate link.khmeli sumeli (Georgian spice mix), like Georgian curry powder
Instructions
- In a large soup pot combine the chicken thighs, whole sprigs of parsley and cilantro, a quartered onion and bay leaves, pour over cold water with the salt and bring to boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
- While the stock is simmering, combine 3 cloves of garlic, 5 sprigs of cilantro and 5 sprigs of parsley, deseeded green chilli with a pinch of salt in a mini food processor and process into paste.( Alternatively, this can be done in a mortar and pestle.)
- Once the stock is done, remove the chicken and let it cool. Strain the stock and discard the herbs and onion.
- In a soup pot heat the vegetable oil and sauté the onion over low heat until translucent, then add the herb and chilli paste and continue cooking for a minute while stirring, now stir in the chopped tomatoes and the prepared stock. Add the rice, the spice mix and cook for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile remove the skin and bones off the chicken thighs and discard, shred the meat and add to the soup. Taste the soup and add more salt and black pepper to taste. Serve sprinkled with freshly chopped cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is there a substitute to the Georgian spice mix?
Hi Anne, you can see what goes into the spice mix if you scroll up a little bit where I go into detail answering your question.