Bahamian Souse (Chicken souse)
Overview
Souse is a clear, peppery and lime-sharp soup from the Bahamas, most often made with chicken. Pieces of chicken are simmered with onion, celery, potatoes, allspice berries, bay leaves and a hot goat pepper or scotch bonnet. Large amounts of fresh lime juice are added at the end, giving the broth its typical sour, refreshing taste. The soup is light but very flavourful and is usually served with Johnny cake or bread. Other popular versions are made with sheep tongue, pig feet, turkey wings or conch.
History
Souse is one of the national dishes of the Bahamas and has long been eaten as a weekend breakfast, especially on Saturday mornings. It is known as a cure for a hangover after Friday night, and many restaurants in Nassau and on the Out Islands sell it early in the day. The word souse comes from an old term for food pickled in a sour liquid.
Main ingredients
Chicken, limes, onion, potatoes, allspice and bay leaf, hot pepper. The soup is built on lime and allspice broth and is usually served hot. Diet: contains meat; usually gluten-free.
Explore: Chicken soups · Potato soups
Recipe
Method
- 1
Rub the chicken with lime and salt, then rinse.
- 230 min
Simmer it in 2 l water with the onion, celery, allspice, bay and pepper for 30 minutes.
- 315 min
Add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes.
- 4
Stir in the lime juice, season and serve with Johnny cake.
- ✓
Serve. About 1 h from start to bowl.
Sources
Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.
