large chicken (around 2.25kg), either left whole or quartered (I freeze raw chicken carcasses and trimmings from other dishes and add these to my soup for extra flavour) • celery with leaves • medium onions, peeled • large leeks, halved lengthways, dark green part removed • large parsnip, peeled and halved lengthways • large carrots, peeled and halved lengthways • green pepper, deseeded (optional) • tomatoes • small raw beetroot, peeled (optional) • parsley on the stem, no need to chop it • salt, plus extra to taste • Cold water •