Chicken Wild Rice Soup

(Courtesy of cookingclassy.com)

Ingredients:
3/4 c. uncooked wild rice blend
1 c. chopped yellow onion (from about 1 small onion)
1 c. diced carrots (from 2 medium)
1 c. diced celery (from 2-3 stalks)
7 Tbsp. butter, diced, divided
1 clove garlic, minced
4 1/2 c. low-sodium chicken broth (measured from 3 cans- 14.5 oz. each)
1/4 tsp. each dried thyme, marjoram, sage and rosemary
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. lemon zest

Directions:
Prepare rice according to directions listed on package.

Halfway through the rice cooking, in a separate large pot, melt 1 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery and saute until slightly tender, about 4 minutes, adding in garlic during last 30 seconds of sauteing. Add chicken broth, thyme, marjoram, sage, rosemary and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Increase heat to medium-high, add chicken and bring mixture to a boil. 

Cover pot with lid and allow mixture to boil 12 - 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (rotating chicken to opposite side once during cooking for thicker chicken breasts - if they don't fully immerse in broth). Remove chicken and set aside on cutting board to cool 5 minutes then shred into small bite size pieces. Meanwhile reduce heat to low and add cooked rice. Add shredded chicken to soup.

In a separate medium saucepan (you can rinse and wipe out the rice pan), melt remaining 6 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook 1 1/2 minutes, whisking constantly. Then, while whisking vigorously, slowly pour milk into butter/flour mixture. Cook mixture, stirring constantly until it thickens. Add milk mixture to soup mixture in pot and cook about 5 minutes longer, or until soup is thickened (at this point, you can simmer the soup for a longer period of time if you want the rice to soften more, just cover with lid first and stir occasionally. You can also add what's left in the remaining can of chicken broth). Stir in heavy cream and lemon zest and serve warm.

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