Chicken soup with vine leaves and tomatoes

Poach the chicken and make the stock. Put all the ingredients for the stock in a large stockpot, making sure to entirely cover the chicken.

Bring to the boil and simmer on a very low heat for 60 minutes. Then let it cool for an hour in the hot stock before removing the chicken. Remove and discard the skin, then tear the meat from the bone and discard the carcass.

Rather than cutting the meat, use your hands to tear it gently into generous shreds. Put in a bowl with some stock to keep it moist.

Strain the rest of the stock and then put it back on the heat and reduce to two to three litres, by simmering for up to an hour, or longer if necessary.

You can do all of this the day before you want to eat the dish, or at least allow a couple of hours before you want to serve it. Refrigerate both chicken and stock once they are completely cold.

Sweat the onions and garlic in the olive oil until soft. Add the allspice, about four to five anchovies and the cinnamon. Then add the stock, bring to the boil and add the orzo and tomatoes.

When the pasta is just cooked (about 10-12 minutes), add the chicken meat, vine leaves, herbs and lemon juice and season well before serving with some crusty bread.

dkemp@irishtimes.com
Food cooked and styled by Domini Kemp and Gillian Fallon