Cockaleekie Soup

Ingredients

• 20 cups water
• 1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken
• 0.5 white onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 6 large leeks, cut into 1-inch chunks, or more to taste
• 2/3 cup pearl barley
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps

1. Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
2. Remove chicken, keeping water in the stock pot, and let cool. Discard skin, pull meat from bones, and put bones back into the stockpot. Add onion, carrots, and celery; boil the stock for about 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, soak leeks in a bowl of water, about 10 minutes; drain.
4. When the stock is done, remove bones and vegetables using a slotted spoon; discard.
5. Add chicken meat, leeks, barley, celery seed, cloves, salt, and black pepper to stock. Simmer until barley is tender and the flavors have blended, about 1 hour.