Healing Soups ~ 100 Healthy Recipes

Homemade soup has it's benefits by allowing one to control the amount of additives and sodium and homemade soups do retain much of their vitamins and minerals as the ingredients cook and become part of the broth. Therefore soup may boost your vegetable intake. 

This lovely cookbook targets different aspects of ones health, well being and or aliments by offering soup recipes for the mind, body, health, and beauty. There are 3 chapters appropriately titled: Soups for Looking Good and Feeling Good, Soups for Recovery and Recuperation and Soups for the Soul and Spirit. At the beginning of the book there is a brief glossary of soup making equipment, essential ingredients and finishing touches. It covers the soup basics... the broth... by offering 4 types of broth recipes fish, chicken, beef, and vegetable. 

Every recipe is one page and has a quip "science bit" about an ingredient, vitamin, herb or vegetable related to the recipe. Recipes are easy to follow and provide you with nutrients to help soothe, comfort and nourish you. At the end there are a few Seasonal recipes, again appropriately titled... Spring Renewal, Summer Coolers, Autumn Boosters, and Winter Warmers. There are many easy and inspiring recipes to choose from and here are  two delicious recipes from the cookbook you may want to try.    

Haitian chicken & orange consommé - for colds 

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serves 4

1.5 litres (2 1/2 pints) chicken stock

500ml (17 fl oz) freshly squeezed orange juice, strained

2 cloves

2 star anise

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

orange slices, to garnish

Put the chicken stock, orange juice, cloves, star anise, and peppercorns into a large saucepan, and simmer gently, cover for 30 minutes.

Strain the soup through a sieve and serve in bowls. Garnish with thin orange slices. Alternatively, chill and serve cold.

Orange juice provides Vitamin C and combines perfectly with the restorative properties of homemade chicken stock. if you feel the need for a little extra nutrition, you can add thin strips of carrot and ginger and some shredded cooked chicken.


Armenian Lentil Soup - for stress
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serves 4

50 g (2 oz) red lentils, rinsed
50 g (2 oz) dried apricots
1 large potato, roughly chopped
1.2 litres (2 pints) chicken or vegetable stock
juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
salt and pepper
roasted cumin seeds and slivers of orange rind, to garnish


Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes.

Blend the soup until smooth.

Ladle into bowls and serve with sprinkling of roasted cumin seeds and a few slivers of orange rind.

Lentils are a good source of vitamin B5 and B6, which are vital for healthy adrenal function and energy production. 

Hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the week. - JD