Where does Canja de Galinha come from?

Canja de Galinha — country of origin: Cape Verde.

What is Canja de Galinha made of?

Chicken, rice, tomato, onion, garlic.

How do you pronounce Canja de Galinha?

Canja de galinha (European Portuguese) is pronounced /ˈkɐ̃ʒɐ dɨ ɡɐˈlĩɲɐ/.

Canja de Galinha

Pronunciation (IPA) /ˈkɐ̃ʒɐ dɨ ɡɐˈlĩɲɐ/

A comforting chicken and rice soup, simmered with tomato, onion and garlic, and widely eaten in Cape Verde, where it is rooted in Portuguese cooking.

Also known as: Canja · Chicken canja

Allergens & declarations

The classic recipe carries none of the 14 EU allergens.

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Canja de galinha is a chicken and rice soup, widely eaten in Cape Verde and rooted in Portuguese cooking.

It is also made in Portugal, so the dish is shared between the two countries rather than belonging to one. The name is Portuguese: galinha means hen or chicken, and canja is the soup itself, a light broth with rice cooked into it.

What it really is

A whole chicken, or chicken pieces, is simmered in water or stock until the meat is tender and comes away from the bone. Rice goes into the broth and cooks until soft, thickening the soup slightly. Tomato, onion and garlic flavour the broth. The chicken is then pulled into shreds and returned to the pot or served in the bowl. The result is a light, brothy soup rather than a thick stew, and rice, not noodles, is the starch that thickens it.

Recipes differ in how much rice and tomato go in, and in whether the stock is made from scratch or from a stock cube. Those choices change the flavour, so the soup varies from kitchen to kitchen.

How it's served

Hot, in a deep bowl, with shredded chicken and soft rice in the broth.
As a first course, or as a light meal on its own.
With bread on the side, if the kitchen offers it.

Name the chicken and how it comes: shredded into the broth, or served as pieces on the bone.
Name the rice, and say whether the broth is made from scratch or from a stock cube.
Say that it is made with chicken, so it is not suitable for vegetarians.
The classic soup contains no common allergen. Flag wheat if bread is served with it, and ask about stock cubes, which can contain celery.
Say whether it is a starter or a main, since portion sizes differ.

Typical ingredients

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Frequently asked questions

What is Canja de Galinha?: A comforting chicken and rice soup, simmered with tomato, onion and garlic, and widely eaten in Cape Verde, where it is rooted in Portuguese cooking.
Where does Canja de Galinha come from?: Canja de Galinha — country of origin: Cape Verde.
What is Canja de Galinha made of?: Chicken, rice, tomato, onion, garlic.
Which allergens does Canja de Galinha contain?: The classic recipe carries none of the 14 EU allergens.
What is Canja de Galinha also known as?: Canja, Chicken canja.
How do you pronounce Canja de Galinha?: Canja de galinha (European Portuguese) is pronounced /ˈkɐ̃ʒɐ dɨ ɡɐˈlĩɲɐ/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.