Spicy Green Garlic Chicken Soup

Step 1

Season chicken legs generously with salt and pepper. Pour olive oil into a Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken legs and brown well, about 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside. Add diced yellow onion and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and softened, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, celery, bay leaf and clove and return chicken to pot.

Step 2

Add 10 cups water and 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until chicken is tender, but not falling off the bone, about 1 hour. Turn off heat and skim fat from surface of broth. (May be prepared up to this point several hours ahead, or up to a day in advance, and refrigerated.)

Step 3

While chicken is cooking, prepare the green garlic shoots: peel tough outer layers and roots, then rinse well. Split shoots lengthwise and chop both white and tender green parts. Set aside.

Step 4

Make the tomatillo salsa: drain diced white onion and transfer to a small bowl. Add tomatillo, jalapeño, lime juice and a little salt and stir together.

Step 5

Just before serving, reheat soup, add chopped green garlic to pot and simmer 5 minutes. To serve, put one chicken leg in each bowl (alternatively, remove meat from bone and shred) and ladle soup over it. Pass tomatillo salsa and lime wedges at the table.