On The Menu Recipe: Smoked Chicken, Broccoli, Black Bean Soup — An original recipe created for George’s at the Cove

• Ingredients

FOR THE SOUP:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup diced carrots

1/2 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced celery

1 cup broccoli stems, peeled & diced

2 teaspoons dried thyme

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon Dried sweet basil

1/4 cup dry white wine

4 cup chicken stock, hot

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1 cup cooked black beans

1 cup broccoli florets

2 cups heavy cream

2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with a small amount of warm water (optional)

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

FOR THE SMOKED CHICKEN:

1 cup diced smoked chicken

• Preparation

FOR THE SOUP:

In 1/4 cup butter, sauté carrots, onion, celery and broccoli stems for 5 minutes. Add thyme, oregano and basil; sauté 5 minutes more. Add wine and deglaze pan. Add hot chicken stock and reduce by one-third. Add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, smoked chicken, beans, broccoli florets: simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream, simmer for 5 minutes more and season to taste (thickening with cornstarch is desired). Drop in remaining butter, piece by piece, stirring until melted and serve immediately.

FOR THE SMOKED CHICKEN:

On a covered grill, slightly smoke boneless chicken until fully cooked (about 30 minutes.) Our chef uses applewood chips and does not allow the grill to become too hot.