Recipe: Medicine Bird Soup

by
posted on February 23, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
IMG 3727 1

The old saying that chicken soup is good for the soul may have more meaning than most realize. Combating a cold with chicken soup works in many ways. The hot broth will help clear a stuffy nose while soothing a sore throat. A small quantity of salt will help restore electrolytes, and the bird has tryptophan, which can increase serotonin levels. Carbs provide energy, while vegetables offer a good dose of vitamins and minerals.

The diet of the forest-dwelling fowl is diverse, with plenty of natural herbs, berries and fruiting bodies, like rosehips. The grouse are forest herbalists collecting various medicinal plants and converting them into succulent flesh. Hunters benefit from making soup from ruffed grouse and taking the medicinal qualities even further than a domestic chicken. Early settlers and trappers often looked at ruffed grouse as a medicine bird.  

If you are feeling under the weather, perhaps a bowl of medicine bird soup is the cure. Even today, trappers will make soup from a ruffed grouse to treat colds and other ailments. The whole bird is plucked or skinned, as bones are essential to the rich and healthy broth.

Ingredients

  • 2 grouse (whole carcass plucked or skinned)
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 2 quarts chicken stock or water
  • 2 large carrots
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
  • 2 cobs corn, or 1 cup of frozen corn
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 cup rice, wild rice, or barley
  • Parsley

Directions

  1. Peel carrots and onion and dice with celery. Remove the corn from the cob and peas from the pods (or measure frozen). Set all aside.
  2. Quarter the grouse. In a large stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat and place the grouse to brown, turning once. Add the diced vegetables, corn, and peas. Cook until onions are translucent.
  3. Add the water or stock to the stockpot and bring it to a simmer. Add the bay leaves, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  4. Remove the grouse from the pot, let cool, and debone. Dice the meat into small pieces and return it to the pot.
  5. Add the rice to the pot, stir well, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
  6. Serve hot with chopped parsley.

Latest

Lead Photo 02
Lead Photo 02

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Building the Ultimate Elk Bow

Elk are remarkable creatures that dwell in some of the most hellish landscapes on earth. An elk bow needs to be tough, light, and ultra-accurate. Here's how to build the right one for you.

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.