This soup is one of my favorite recipes in my book. I love how packed-full it is of immune-boosting deliciousness! You can eat this soup up to two times a week to give your immune system a boost. During flu season, it's important to boost your immune system as much as possible to avoid illness. I offer many helpful resources as well as recipes in A Dancer's Diary on how to do this naturally. Bon appetite!
Immune Support Soup
Ingredients
1 cup chicken, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 onion, chopped
3 stalks of celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
2 parsnips, sliced
1/2 bulb fresh garlic, smashed and minced
1-inch fresh ginger, minced
1/4 cup burdock root (can be purchased dried), ground
8 oz. Shitake mushrooms
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon ginseng powder or crushed, fresh root
4 cups bone broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon thyme
Sea salt
Directions
Saute the vegetables in a pot with the oil until the onions are translucent and the garlic is aromatic. Pour in the broth and add the spices and chicken. Bring to a simmer for 20 minutes. Serve into bowls and enjoy!
Quick tip-bone broth can be purchased in most grocery stores, however, my favorite way to get bone broth is by making it myself. Here is how:
Place a whole chicken in a pot and cover with water. Sprinkle in herbs of your choice (thyme, oregano, pinch of sea salt, rosemary, etc.).
Boil the chicken until done, approximately 30-45 minutes.
Remove the chicken, reserving the water it boiled in, and pick it clean of meat. Place the bones and other inedible parts back into the water.
You can either boil down the bones in a crock pot overnight or in a pot for many hours. I recommend the crock pot, that way you don't have to constantly check it. Make sure you are adding enough water to provide you with at least 6 cups of broth. As the bone broth continues to boil, water will evaporate, so check the level of the liquid every couple hours.
Quick tip 2-both burdock root and ginseng can be purchased in either health food stores or online. They can come in root form (which is a little bit harder to work with) and powder.
"Burdock is a wonderful herb known for its numerous health benefits which include, aiding in digestion, detoxifying the liver, and balancing hormones. It is also good for improving skin quality, reducing inflammation, and lowering blood pressure." - Organic Facts
"The most impressive health benefits of ginseng include its ability to stimulate the mind, increase energy, soothe inflammation, prevent cancer, reduce stress, and prevent aging." - Organic Facts
Garlic contains wonderful minerals and vitamins that are great for kicking the flu right out of you. Ginger is full of essential minerals and anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Finally, bone broth is anti-inflammatory and detoxifies the body.
What do you think?
What are your favorite recipes for when you are sick?
Until next time,
Amanda
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