It’s a classic, and something bound to pop up on your meal planning radar – a hearty soup always hits the spot! This special immune boosting warming food can be blissful healing in a bowl, easy to digest and packed with vital minerals. But it’s easy to fall into a rut with soup-making, churning out the same old favourites every week. Which can be a great comfort, but mixing it up and trying something can be very stimulating – and, of course, trying new recipes means more nutrients and variety in your diet!
My grandmother swore by chicken soup and whenever there was illness
or threat of illness in the household the stove had a large pot of soup
simmering, vegetables and herbs were added to this and the pot topped
up with water and more herbs and vegetables as the days went on.
For raising immunity and supporting our systems by peak nutrition and
optimum support sustenance we continue this tradition in our home
today abet with Mushrooms being the main ingredient over the chicken a good vegetarian substitute!
Many people have been getting in touch asking what best to do in the face of the Covid19 story that is sweeping our communities and that is why we wanted to share a simple preventative and nourishing medicinal soup recipe with you.
This soup has a variety of ingredients, we believe that in that diversity of herbs, mushrooms, spices and vegetables that true medicinal alchemy is generated.
Ingredients
- 2 large Onion
- 5 sticks Celery
- 2 large Carrots
- 1 large Beetroot
- 1 Fennel bulb
- Bunch Kale chopped
- Good quality chicken
Fresh Herbs from the garden (can be substituted for dried)
Amounts for a 3 litre pan
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Marjoram
- Sage
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Chives
All the above herbs – finely chop a generous handful
- 2-4 Bay leaves
- 1 head Garlic
Spices
- 2 inch square Ginger
- 5 fresh roots Turmeric
Mushrooms (can be found dried in Asian Markets or online)
- 1 handful Shitake Mushrooms
- 1 handful Boletes Mushrooms
- 1 handful Honey fungus
Sauté the onion, celery and grated carrot, beetroot & salt and pepper for 30 mins on a low heat until all very soft adding crushed garlic and all the green herbs & ginger and turmeric finely chopped and the bay leaves in whole keep sautéing
Boil a kettle, fill the pan with boiling water and leave to boil adding a stock cube.
Add in all the mushrooms and chicken and leave to cook for 3-4 hours.
Just before serving we add finely chopped garlic mustard herb, pot marigold petals, primroses and finely chopped fresh oregano and rosemary.
This pot of soup is densely packed with nutrients and will stay simmering on our stove for the week with us keeping re topping it up with more herbs and spices so that our Immune system boosting medicinal soup is the main stay of our family’s diet.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions.
Onion and Garlic are natural sources which are known to possess antiviral properties. Both are rich sources of organosulfur compounds, like quercetin and allicin which inhibit viral infections.
Celery is part of the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, parsnips, parsley, and celeriac. Celery contains a plant compound called apigenin, which plays a role in traditional Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant agent.
Beetroots have been shown to increase the number of white blood, which are responsible for detecting and eliminating abnormal cells thus protecting against disease. Ranked as one of the most potent antioxidant vegetables and also one of the richest sources of glutamine, an amino acid, essential to the health and maintenance of the intestinal tract. The plant pigment that gives beetroot its rich, purple-crimson colour is betacyanin; a powerful agent, strongly anti inflammatory and supportive to immunity
Carrots contain beta carotene, a pigment that converts vitamin A in the body and helps improve vision. The beta carotene in carrots is also an antioxidant that can helps support immunity. In addition to the beta carotene, carrots are a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin C.
The fresh garden herbs:
Thyme
Rosemary
Marjoram
Sage
Oregano
Are all what are known as aromatics potent protectors and famous for warding off evils! They are easy to grow and every garden and park can benefit from having these kitchen medicinal plants planted and cared for.
Now is a perfect time to get preparing and planting up the garden or window pots with nourishing herbs and vegetable. Self-sufficiency something that we have strived towards for many years is worth looking at if you haven’t ever thought about it before. Growing food and medicine with your local community of neighbours or in your own space is an act of autonomy and power.
