Immune Boosting Chicken Soup Recipe 

Can chicken soup really cure a cold?

Well, it’s no magic potion in this day and age, but it may as well be. Chicken soup has several properties that make it useful in the treatment of certain illnesses:

  • Cleansing. “Plenty of fluids” is often advised when you’re ill. A body full of attacking allergens (like a virus) and battling antibodies needs to be flushed in order to get healthy. To that effect, the abundant broth in chicken soup performs aptly.

  • Disinfecting. Chicken soup is generally fairly salty (with lower-sodium versions), so that when it goes down your throat it acts in much the same way as gargling warm salt water. In other words, it removes bacteria in the throat, mouth, and tonsils.

  • Clears sinuses. Much like other warm liquids (for example, tea), it can help to clear the sinuses with steam.

  • Strengthening. The lean protein in chicken and nutrients from added vegetables work to bolster your strength when your body is feeling drained of energy. – Live Lighter

 

Benefits of making Immune Boosting Chicken Soup-

  • Shiitake Mushrooms contain lentinan, an active compound that can boost your immune system to fight infection.
  • Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano contain essential oils that are anti-viral and anti-bacterial.
  • Real Chicken Stock (see recipe below)* made with bones contains B vitamins (in the marrow), calcium, magnesium and zinc all essential for immunity.
  • Kale, Leeks, Peas and Beans contain B vitamins for energy, nerve and adrenal support. Remember stress reduces your immune function.
  • Carrots and Sweet Potato provide betacarotene to assist the lungs in fighting off infections.
  • Ginger and Garlic are powerful anti-inflammatories and immune-supportive spices. You will notice this soup has triple the spices of a standard soup. The active ingredient allicin in freshly crushed garlic works like a natural antibiotic so make sure you eat enough to get the real therapeutic effect.
  • Hot soup helps to thin out mucus. Healthy nasal mucus is clear and thin. During infection, mucus can thicken into a moist, nutrient-rich environment that encourages growth of viruses and bacteria. A mug of chicken soup can thin that mucus and help the body fight infection.
  • Hydrating, electrolyte and minerals rich for your body.

 

Immune Boosting Chicken Soup Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups onion, chopped fine
  • 5cm ginger, chopped fine
  • 2 cups leeks, chopped
  • 2 cups shiitake mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 cups carrots, cut into ¼-inch rounds
  • 2 cups sweet potato, diced
  • 1 cup celery, sliced
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 8 cups chicken stock or water
  • 1/2 cup parsley, freshly chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, freshly chopped
  • 1 Tbsp of each oregano, thyme, and rosemary, chopped*
  • 2 bay leaf, whole
  • 4 cups kale, washed and torn
  • 1 cup snow peas or green beans, chopped
  • 5 chicken drumsticks
  • 5 garlic cloves, sliced and divided

*If these herbs are unavailable fresh then use 1 tsp of each dried. Look for fresh herbs whenever possible get the flavour and essential oils.

 

Immune Boosting Chicken Soup Recipe Directions:

  1. Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add onions, 3 garlic cloves, ginger and leeks. Cook until softened — about 3 minutes.
  2. Add chopped vegetables, chicken drumsticks, salt, chicken stock or water and bay leaf. Increase temperature to high, bring to a boil then reduce to simmer. Cook for approximately 30 minutes until vegetables soften, but aren’t mushy.
  3. Stir kale, peas, fresh herbs, 2 cloves of fresh finely chopped garlic into the soup. Simmer for another few minutes to blend flavours and soften kale. Adding these ingredients at the end ensures that veggies are bright green and garlic is providing maximum immune benefits.

 

Immune Boosting Chicken Soup STOCK Recipe

  • Make a calcium-rich chicken stock in advance so your immune-boosting soup will come together in a flash when you’re under the weather.
  • You can store it up to three months in the freezer.
  • All the veggie scraps provide extra immune supportive minerals, and the best part?
  • The stock is essentially free because it’s made from stuff you were going to throw out.

 

Ingredients:

  • Whole chicken carcass (leftovers from roast chicken dinner)
  • 3 litres of water
  • 2 cups vegetable scraps: carrot skins, celery leaves, sweet potato peels
  • Seasoning: parsley and basil stems
  • Optional: sea salt to taste if desired

Put the chicken, vegetable scraps and the water in a large pot and bring to the boil. Reduce to simmer and stir well. Cover and cook for 20 min. Remove any large bones or skin and either use to make the soup or cool before storing.