Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup
Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup combines chicken, plentiful leeks, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, rice, and prunes in a long-simmered broth. The result is a comforting chicken soup with gentle herbal depth, tender leeks, and a subtle sweetness from the prunes, finished with freshly ground black pepper. Serve it as a warming lunch or supper on a cool day.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook3 hrs 40 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 10 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 100 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 70
- Heart Health
- 54
- Metabolic
- 10
- Digestive
- 35
- Inflammatory
- 15
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Cut off the leek tops (the dark green, fibrous parts) and wash them well. Set aside the leek bottoms.
- 2
Put the clean leek tops in the bottom of a large pot. Place the chicken on top and add the bay leaf, garlic, dried plums, and water. Set the pot over high heat until the liquid starts to simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low or low and simmer gently for 1 hour 15 minutes, occasionally pushing the chicken under the liquid with tongs.
- 3
Meanwhile, prepare the leek bottoms by trimming off the root ends and slicing them in half lengthwise. Turn the leeks and cut them crosswise into ½-inch slices. Transfer them to a large bowl and fill it with cold water so the leeks float. Toss them with your hands to loosen the dirt. Grab the leeks with your hands, shake them gently to remove the water, and transfer them to another bowl. Place them in the refrigerator until needed.
- 4
Carefully lift the chicken with two forks, let the liquid drain from the cavity, and place it in a bowl. Separate the meat from the skin and bones. Tear the meat into bite-sized pieces and place it in the refrigerator until needed.
- 5
Place the skin and bones back into the pot and gently simmer for 1 more hour.
- 6
Set a colander in a bowl. Use a skimmer spoon to transfer all the solids from the broth to the colander. Discard the solids and transfer any broth back to the pot.
- 7
Add the sliced leeks to the pot with salt, pepper, and rice. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, skimming off some fat if desired and adding more water if the liquid reduces too much.
- 8
Add the sliced leeks, chicken, and thyme. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Serve.
- 9
Add the remaining sliced leeks, chicken, and thyme. Simmer over medium-low for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Serve.
- Calories 567.88 kcal High 28%
- Protein 73.84 g Good Source 148%
- Carbohydrate 59.65 g 22%
- Total Fat 4.63 g Moderate 6%
- Saturated Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 187.52 mg High 63%
- Sodium 253.87 mg Moderate 11%
- Dietary Fiber 14.0 g Good Source 50%
- Total Sugars 22.38 g --
- Added Sugars 19.92 g High 40%
- Calcium 109.93 mg Low Source 8%
- Iron 3.75 mg Good Source 21%
- Potassium 660.07 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin A 5.23 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.59 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Scottish Cock a Leekie Soup is a Scottish soup recipe made with 13 ingredients. It takes about 4 hrs 10 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Chicken Breast, Cut Leeks, and Dried Bay Leaves. Each serving provides about 567.88 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup?
- It is a Scottish soup recipe made with 13 ingredients, usually served for soup.
- What is Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Chicken Breast, Cut Leeks, Dried Bay Leaves, Fresh Thyme. The full list of 13 is above.
- What goes well with Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup?
- Explore these Scottish side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup?
- About 4 hrs 10 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 3 hrs 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 567.88 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 13 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup healthy?
- Scottish Cock-a-Leekie Soup has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 567.88 calories and 73.84 g of protein, or 148% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 253.87 mg (11% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 19.92 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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