Yock (Yaka Mein) New Orleans Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
New Orlean's Yock or Yaka Mein come together with tenderly simmered chicken in broth, combined with spaghetti noodles, chicken broth, hard-boiled eggs, freshly diced green onions, and a comforting blend of Creole seasonings.
Ingredients
Meat & Shrimp
- 1.5 lbs chicken or meat of your choice cut into 1/2 inch strips
- ½ lbs shrimp peeled and deveined (optional)
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
Toppings
- 4 eggs boiled
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles
- ½ scallion the green part chopped for garnishing (or green onion)
Meat Marinate
- 2 tsp creole seasoning
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Broth & Seasoning
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp creole seasoning
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Start with the Marinade
- Marinate the chicken or protein of your choice with soy sauce and creole spices some hours before but if you don't have time even a quick marinade can work.
- Start by searing the chicken adding taste to the final stew. (Optional)
- Calmly skip this step 2 if you're in a hurry.
Start the stew
- Add the chicken broth and the meat in a pot stirring all the spices, the soy sauce and the Worcestershire sauce.
- Bring the stew to boil and then reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 20 minutes. I suggest to keep stirring the pot every 5 minutes. I love to leave the chicken cooking for over an hour but you can vary this as long as the meat is cooked throughout.
Prepare the toppings
- Boil the eggs according to your liking and chop the green onions while waiting for the stew to be ready.
Cook Shrimp, Noodles & Serve
- Add the spaghetti to the stew or noodles following the package instructions. Continue to cook for 5-10 minutes following the package instructions and until until the chicken is cooked, soft and tender. If you're going to add shrimps add them only in the last 5 minutes as they cook very fast.
- Assemble the bowl, choose a large bowl adding some noodles and a ladle of broth. Then place gently the chicken strips and top with the green onions and the sliced eggs. I don't like adding the hot sauce but you can add some for extra flavor according to your liking. Enjoy your Yok, Yock or Yak!