Sopa de Gallina India

The star of this traditional Salvadoran soup or broth is gallina india, a free-range, home-raised chicken. The chicken has an unrivaled, rich flavor as a result of being raised in a natural setting and fed a natural diet. It is often cooked in water with a variety of chopped vegetables, garlic, herbs, spices, and seasonings.

Carrots, onions, pipián (a type of small squash eaten as a vegetable), tomatoes, potatoes, chilote (baby corn), green chilis, and guisquil (a green, pear-shaped vegetable) are common vegetables in the soup, as are parsley, chipiln (a leguminous plant), pepper, red pepper, achiote (a type of spice made from the seeds of the annatto tree), and basil.

Other components such as rice, tiny eggs, or even meatballs may be included in some variants (called albondigas). Sopa de gallina india is typically served heated in bowls with huge pieces of chicken. After cooking, the chicken can be chopped into pieces, roasted, and served alongside the soup.