Whenever it’s cold and rainy out (like right now) I always crave something warm and soothing in my belly. Today, I’m making this quick and super healthy soup that is filling and hits the spot when my body is needing some comfort food.
Lentils are an all star when it comes to fibre, both the soluble and insoluble type. Just one cup contains 62% of the daily recommended dose. Lentils should be soaked for a few hours to improve digestibility, but they can be cooked without pre-soaking. Adding ingredients like turmeric, garlic and cardamom will help to bring down any inflammation you may be suffering from and limit pain and swelling, especially in mucus membranes, the mouth, and throat caused by cold and flu symptoms. Due to its high fibre, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties I added this recipe to my online cleanse workshop, along with another 90 or so:)
You will love this lovely spiced coconutty heart warming soup!
Anti-inflammatory Green Lentil + Coconut Soup
- 1.5 cups green lentils, soaked for 2-4 hours
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 1 medium celery root
- 4.5 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric or 1 tsp fresh turmeric root, grated
- ¼ tsp cardamom
- ⅛ tsp red chili flakes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp sea salt
Garnish: (optional)
- Handful pumpkin seeds
- Pea shoots
- Dash of cayenne pepper
How to make:
Soak green lentils in water for 2-6 hours.
Melt coconut oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Dice onion and add to pot with sea salt. Cook for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel celery root and cut into large cubes. Chop garlic and add to pot along with red chili flakes, turmeric, cardamom, and cumin. Stir for 30 seconds, then add celery root, bay leaf and vegetable stock. Rinse lentils, pick out any stones, then add to soup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 35 minutes.
Take out the bay leaf. Put soup into a blender and buzz until smooth. You probably have to do this in 2 steps. Be careful when blending hot soup, the steam can pop off the lid!
Lentils tend to thicken over time, so if you’re having this soup as a leftover, you may have to add a bit more water.
Makes 4-6 servings
Could you benefit from a cleanse? Download my free Detox 101 Guide ~ what anyone thinking about doing a cleanse ought to know. DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDE HERE.
In this guide, I explain who should and shouldn’t do a cleanse, how to choose the right detox plan for you, and how to avoid the top sources of toxins.
Enjoy, and happy cleansing!
Tell us, what’s your favourite healthy comfort food? Share in the comment section below!
