It's our favourite choice for dinner - whether roasted with potatoes for a traditional Sunday lunch, or skewered and spiced in our new national dish: chicken tikka masala. So let's hear it for the humble Gallus domesticus

Chicken is undoubtedly one of the world's most popular ingredients. Unlike red meats, few cultural or religious taboos exist regarding its consumption, and it's a relatively cheap source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals.

The international obsession with the bird is reflected in the endless range of recipes and preparations. The subtle taste of the meat complements a spectrum of flavours from the simple pot-roasted bird of European peasant farmers to the hot and spicy chicken soups of fast-food markets in Thailand and the Far East.

And little wonder that chicken is such a ubiquitous dish. Not only is it packed with protein, providing more essential amino acids than any vegetables, but it's low in fat (the little fat that is present is 'good', being mostly unsaturated or monounsaturated) and packed with important vitamins and minerals.

So, to show our appreciation of this most versatile of ingredients, iVillage invites you to celebrate the joys of chicken.

• Chicken soups
  
• Chicken recipes from around the world
  
• Celebrity chicken dishes
  
• Chicken in a hurry
  
• Take the chicken challenge
  
• How to roast a chicken
  
• Buying organic chicken

Chicken soups

Feeling down? All you need is some TLC and a bowl of warm, creamy chicken soup

Known as nature's antibiotic, chicken soup is the ultimate food for the soul. The warming vapours and home-cooked taste ensure a cosy, comforting experience, and its health-giving properties are slowly being acknowledged by the medical community (although Jewish grandmothers will tell you that they've known it for years).

• Traditional Chicken Soup
  
• Chicken and Lemon Grass Soup
  
• Nigel Slater's Fast, Warming Bowl of Soup
  
• Thai Chicken Soup

Over the page: Chicken recipes from around the world

Chicken recipes from around the world

From Kentucky to Kiev, from kormas to kebabs, there's a world of ways to prepare chicken. Here we present the planet's favourite dishes

• Portugal:
  Chicken Piri Piri

• Thailand:
  Thai Chicken Soup
  Thai Chicken Salad

• Nigeria:
  Peanut and Chicken Stew

• America:
  Chicken Pot Pie
  Chicken and Prawn Gumbo

• Greece:
  Chicken Thighs Braised in Walnut Sauce

• India:
  Tamil Coconut Chilli Chicken
  Chicken Korma
  Chicken Biryani

• England:
  Roast Chicken

• France:
  Chicken Breasts with Apples and Cider

• Africa:
  Spicy Chicken with Harissa and Mushrooms

Over the page: Celebrity chicken recipes

Celebrity chicken recipes

Far from being a boring ingredient, poultry allows our best chefs to shine. Here, some famous cooks share their champion chicken recipes

• Nigel Slater's
  Chicken, Garlic and Herb Supper

• Sophie Grigson's
  Roast Chicken with Porcini

• Jamie Oliver's
  Pot-roasted Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce

• Brian Glover's
  Grilled Chicken and Papaya Salad with Lime Dressing

• Ken Hom's
  Steeped Chicken with Cantonese-style Dipping Sauce

• Peter Gordon's
  Stuffed Baked Tomatoes with Chicken and Coriander

• Mridula Baljekar's
  Chicken Tikka Masala

Over the page: Chicken in a hurry

Chicken in a hurry

As well as being healthy and nutritious, some chicken dishes can be prepared in under half an hour

• Skewered Chicken
  
• Avocado Chicken Pizza
  
• Spicy Chicken Couscous
  
• Chicken and Mushroom Stir Fry
  
• Chicken Wrapped in Bacon with Spicy Bean Casserole

So, now you've boned up on chicken, why not take the Chicken Challenge.

What's your favourite chicken recipe? Share your best recipes on the Quick & Easy Cooking message board.