Chicken soup is a soup made by boiling chicken parts or bones in water, with various vegetables and flavorings. The classic chicken soup consists of a clear broth, often served with small pieces of chicken or vegetables, or with noodles or dumplings, or grains such as rice and barley. Chicken soup has also acquired the reputation of a folk remedy for colds and flus, and in many countries including the United States is considered a classic comfort food.Strictly speaking the birds preferably used for soup are not chickens, but old hens and boiling fowl too tough and stringy to be roasted or cooked for a short time. In modern cities broilers are difficult to come by, and true chickens are often used to make soup; broilers are to be preferred when available.
