Hervido de Gallina

Name: Hervido de Gallina
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 65 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Venezuelan
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces; 500g yuca, peeled and chunked; 3 ears corn, halved; 2 potatoes, quartered; 1 large carrot, chunked; 1 onion, quartered; 1 leek, sliced; 4 cloves garlic; 1 bunch cilantro; 2 scallions; 10 cups water; Salt and pepper

Hervido de Gallina (air-VEE-doh deh gah-YEE-nah)

Venezuelan Hen Soup

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 388 kcal

A deeply comforting chicken soup loaded with root vegetables, corn, and herbs — Venezuela's ultimate home-cooked healing broth.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 30.0g

Carbs 40.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large stockpot ladle cutting board

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep bowl

Garnishes: cilantro

Accompaniments: arepa, avocado, hot sauce

Ingredients

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
500g yuca, peeled and chunked
3 ears corn, halved
2 potatoes, quartered
1 large carrot, chunked
1 onion, quartered
1 leek, sliced
4 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro
2 scallions
10 cups water
Salt and pepper

Instructions

1
Place chicken in a large pot with water, onion, garlic, and scallions. Bring to a boil, skim foam.
2
Reduce heat and simmer 30 min until chicken is cooked. Remove chicken, shred meat, discard bones.
3
Add yuca, potatoes, carrot, corn, and leek. Simmer 30 min until vegetables are tender.
4
Return shredded chicken to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.
5
Add chopped cilantro in the last 5 min of cooking.
6
Serve in deep bowls with all the vegetables and a generous amount of broth.

💡

Did You Know?

Venezuelan mothers firmly believe hervido cures everything — the phrase "hazle un hervido" (make them a hervido) is the first prescription for any ailment.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large stockpot
ladle
cutting board

Garnishing

cilantro

Accompaniments

arepa, avocado, hot sauce

The Story Behind Hervido de Gallina

Hervido is Venezuela's foundational soup, evolving from indigenous root-vegetable broths enriched with poultry after Spanish colonization. Every Venezuelan family has its own sacred recipe passed down through generations. The use of hen (gallina) rather than young chicken (pollo) produces a richer, more gelatinous broth considered superior for both flavor and healing properties.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed sunday lunch or when sick 📜 Origins: Colonial Creole tradition

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!