Sancocho colombiano (chicken, plantain and cassava soup)
A big, comforting Sunday pot of chicken with green plantain, cassava, potato and corn, served over rice with avocado and lime.
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.33 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 827kcal
- 92.1gcarbs
- 11.7gof which sugars
- 16.4gfat
- 3.4gsaturates
- 73.6gprotein
- 13.2gfibre
- 2.5gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the chicken, water, onion, spring onions, garlic, cumin, pepper, salt and the bundle of coriander stalks in a large pot. Bring to the boil, skim off any foam, then simmer gently with the lid half on for 20 minutes.
20 min - 2
Add the plantain and cassava. Simmer for 20 minutes.
20 min - 3
Add the potatoes and corn. Simmer for 25 minutes more, until the cassava and potatoes are soft and the chicken is falling off the bone. The broth should be slightly thickened by the starch.
25 min - 4
While the soup cooks, rinse the rice and cook it with 550 ml water and a pinch of salt: bring to the boil, cover, and cook on the lowest heat for 12 minutes, then rest covered for 10 minutes.
12 min - 5
Lift out the onion and the coriander stalk bundle and stir in half the chopped coriander. Taste and add salt if needed.
- 6
Serve the soup in deep bowls with a scoop of rice, sliced avocado, the rest of the coriander and lime wedges to squeeze over.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
