6 chicken soup and stew recipes to warm you up tonight

With El Niño finally making its presence known here in Southern California -- what is this wet stuff falling from the sky? -- we scoured our recipe database for some of our favorite soups and stews. It's comfort food in a bowl.

Bellow you'll find six recipes for chicken soups and stews. These recipes are perfectly suited for a busy weeknight -- one even comes together in the microwave -- ideal when you're short on time, energy or both. Simply click on the photos to get the recipes.

Tuscan chicken stew

No. 7: Tuscan chicken stew

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

Chicken thighs are braised with white beans in a light tomato sauce. The stew is finished with fresh spinach and lots of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Best of all, the whole meal comes together in about an hour.

Cayenne's Moroccan chicken soup

Rich and satisfying.
Recipe: Moroccan chicken soup

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

This isn't your ordinary chicken soup. Each bite is flavored with bits of carrot and celery, garbanzo beans and cracked wheat. It's rich, yet delicately spiced with notes of cinnamon and curry.

Massaman curry with chicken

Bright, fresh and mildly spicy.
Recipe: Massaman curry with chicken

(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times

Bright, fresh and mildly spicy, Cholada Thai's homemade Massaman curry paste marries perfectly with sweet coconut milk in this rich, slow-simmered chicken stew.

Pollo al Colmao

Tender, slow-cooked chicken stewed in a Creole-style tomato sauce dotted with green olives and peas and spiced with chile powder.
Recipe: Pollo al Colmao

(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Cuban institution El Colmao credits this recipe to "old grandpa Eduardo Sousa." The specialty features tender, slow-cooked chicken stewed in a Creole-style tomato sauce dotted with green olives and peas and spiced with chile powder.

Coconut chicken soup (Tom kha gai)

Ready in only 15 minutes.
Recipe: Tom kha gai

Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times

This immensely popular soup can be found on practically every Thai restaurant menu. The flavorful mix of coconut milk, fresh lime juice, fish sauce and lemongrass complements the straw mushrooms, Thai peppers and chunks of chicken.

Chunky vegetable chicken soup

A rich chicken soup that comes together in minutes.
Recipe: Chunky vegetable chicken soup

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Short on time but looking for a rich soup with slow-simmered flavor? Chop some vegetables, open a few cans and toss with chopped chicken in a casserole dish. Then pop it in the microwave -- yes, the microwave -- for a dinner that comes together in minutes.

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