What Has Cockaleeky Soup Got In It?

This traditional Scottish soup goes back at least to the 16th century. Like all old recipes it has many variations, but the main basics are:

-1 chicken or other fowl, preferably a "boiling-fowl" - this is the "cocka" part (a 4lb bird will serve up to 8 people)
-about 12 leeks for the "leekie" part - cut into 1-in pieces
-about 4 pints stock or water
-herbs eg bay leaf and parsley
-1 oz rice

Traditionally you should also have some stoned prunes, and some chopped bacon. Some recipes add a pound of shin of beef, others recommend a little whisky.

Basically you put the chicken in the stock overnight, then boil it next day for 2 hours or so with leeks and herbs, then add the rice and cook till the rice is soft. A fairly straightforward recipe can be found at blrecipe_leekie