Tiny pasta balls (fregola) help create the Italian version of chicken noodle soup. Warming, hearty and utterly delicuous, this soup is everything you need to warm every corner of your soul.
Heat the olive oil in a large pan until hot over a moderate heat until hot. Add the chicken thighs and fry them until all the sides have browned, around 5 minutes. Remove from the pan.
Add the onion, celery, red pepper and garlic for about 5 minutes until soft.
Return the chicken to the pan along with about 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley (stalks and leaves) and the oregano. Season with about 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and some black pepper. And pour over about 1.5 litres of water.
Bring the soup to boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently for 1 hour, until the chicken is tender.
Remove the chicken from the pan and leave to cool.
Add the fregola to the soup and cook according to the packet instructions, minus 1 minute.
Using your fingers or two forks, shred the chicken from the bone and add to the soup. Discard the bones.
Pour in the cream and simmer for 2 minutes, before removing from the heat. Check for seasoning and that's it!
I like to pop on the lid and leave for 30 minutes for the fregola to swell up and absorb more liquid before eating, but it's good to go if you haven't got the time or stamina to wait.
When you're good to go, sprinkle with a little more chopped parsley and if you have some, a sprinkling of Parmigiana Reggiano cheese is just the ticket!