Name: Creamy chicken & sweetcorn soup
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil -; 1 celery stick -; 1 leek , finely sliced -; 300ml strong chicken stock -; 250g sweetcorn (use fresh or frozen), half of it crushed lightly with a fork -; 200g greens (such as spinach or kale), finely sliced -; small bunch chives , finely snipped -; 25g butter -; 25g plain flour -; 250ml milk -; 1 tsp olive oil -; 2-3 (depending on size) skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into cubes -; 1 skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes -; ⅓ onion , very finely chopped (optional) -

Ingredients for - Creamy chicken & sweetcorn soup

1. 1 tbsp olive oil

2. 1 celery stick

3. 1 leek , finely sliced

4. 300ml strong chicken stock

5. 250g sweetcorn (use fresh or frozen), half of it crushed lightly with a fork

6. 200g greens (such as spinach or kale), finely sliced

7. small bunch chives , finely snipped

8. 25g butter

9. 25g plain flour

10. 250ml milk

11. 1 tsp olive oil

12. 2-3 (depending on size) skinless chicken thigh fillets, cut into cubes

13. 1 skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes

14. ⅓ onion , very finely chopped (optional)

How to cook deliciously - Creamy chicken & sweetcorn soup

1 . Stage

For the base, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for a few mins, stirring all the time. Now, using a whisk or spatula, carefully stir in the milk, a little at a time, making sure the sauce stays smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for a couple of mins until it thickens – it will be very thick. Turn the heat right down and keep cooking for 5 mins, stirring often.

2 . Stage

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry all of the chicken in batches until it starts to colour lightly at the edges. Scoop out each batch of chicken and put it on a plate. Add the onion to the pan if you are using it, and cook over a low heat until soft. Add the chicken and any juices and the onion to the white sauce, fold it in and cook the mixture for a further 15 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. If you're making the base ahead of time, you can leave it to cool at this stage then freeze in an airtight container for up to a month. (Defrost fully before using in the next step.)

3 . Stage

Heat oil in a pan, add the celery and leek, then fry them gently until completely soft. Stir in the chicken base and stock and bring the mixture to a simmer.

4 . Stage

Add the sweetcorn and cook for 5 mins, then stir in the greens and cook for 1 min. Sprinkle over the chives and serve.