It’s that time of year, where we’re tired of the cold and rain and wind. Additionally, if you’ve caught a cold off the student sneezing next to you in a 9am or have had to pay the consequence of catching a flu walking home from TP in your short shorts… All you’re craving is for is your hot water bottle, bed and the latest episode of Girls. There’s nothing more comforting than a cosy bowl of homemade soup. Here are some healthy recipes and ideas to get you back on your feet and out of bed.
Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 carrot
- 2 fresh tomatoes
- 1 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
- ½ onion
- a garlic clove
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup of chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 small bunch of fresh basil to serve
Method:
- Peel and roughly slice the carrots, peel and chop the onions, and peel and slice the garlic. Put a large pan on medium heat and add olive oil. Toss in all the chopped and sliced ingredients and mix together with a wooden spoon.
- Cook for about 10-15 minutes until carrots have softened and the onions are golden.
- Prepare the stock, once dissolved add to the pan along with the tinned and fresh tomatoes. Stir the mixture and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on. Then remove from heat and puree soup in a blender, food processor or with a handheld mixer until smooth. Once pureed season well and serve with fresh basil leaves.
Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. vegetable oil/ olive oil
- ½ onion diced
- 1 tsp. of thai red curry paste
- a pinch of salt
- 1 or 2 sweet potatoes (depends on the size)
- 1 cups of vegetable stock
- a dash of milk
Optional add ins:
- Ginger
- Lime juice
- Fresh cilantro
Method:
- In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion (and ginger) and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until soft. Add curry paste and salt and cook, stirring for another minute or so. Add sweet potato, milk, and vegetable stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are soft.
- Puree the soup in a blender, food processor or using a handheld mixer. Return the soup to the heat and bring back up to a simmer. Just before serving, stir in lime juice. Serve hot, garnished with cilantro.
Pimp your soup!
If none of these appeal to you personally, make a list of vegetables that you like and mix and match.
Your finding yourself still hungry? Pimp your soup with optional extra’s to add that powerful nutritional hit.
Add nuts such as almonds, they’re full of essential amino acids to keep your immune system fired up to fight that flu. Add soba noodles made from buckwheat for that extra hit of muscle-building protein. Feeling tired? Boil some quinoa and pop it in your soup are it provides more protein to boost your energy. Finding your soup too spicy or lacking creaming texture? Swirl in some plain yogurt, it’ll boost your digestion with a helping of gut friendly bacteria. Want some bread for dunking? Choose sourdough instead of white bread, it has a lower glycemic index which will keep you fuller for longer!
Picture Credits: www.pinterest.com