Cape Verde | Soup

Canja de Galinha

A comforting Cape Verdean chicken and rice soup with vegetables and a squeeze of lime. The Cape Verdean version of the Portuguese classic, adapted with local spices.

Country
Cape Verde
Region
West Africa
Time
65 min
Serves
6
Level
easy
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Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for Comfort food and recovery meals. Plan on a easy cook and about 65 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Crusty bread

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Regional lane

Cape Verde national table. A structured Cape Verde dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Adding too much liquid after the rice goes in.
  • Stirring too often once the grains should be steaming.
  • Stopping the base before the pepper, onion, or spice edge has mellowed.
How you know it is ready
  • The grains should be tender but still distinct, with steam carrying the seasoning upward.
  • The sauce should coat the spoon and taste rounded, not watery or raw.
  • The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
Recipe photos

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Canja de Galinha recipe from Cape Verde
Canja de Galinha finished dish
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Crusty bread

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Cape Verde national table

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Servings 6

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How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Cape Verde
4 steps 20 min prep 45 min cook 65 min total easy
1
Cook the chicken
Place chicken in a pot with 6 cups water, onion, garlic, and salt. Boil until tender, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken, shred the meat, discard bones.
Cook chicken 25:00
2
Add rice and vegetables
Add rice and carrots to the broth. Simmer for 15 minutes until rice is cooked and carrots are tender.
Cook rice 15:00
3
Return chicken
Add shredded chicken back to the soup. Season with salt, black pepper, parsley or green onion, and a generous squeeze of lime.
4
Serve
Ladle into bowls and serve hot with extra lime wedges and crusty bread.

Every household has small variations. Start here, then adjust seasoning, heat, and serving sides to your kitchen.

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