Get-well-soon soup

By Philippa Jamieson 

Any time I feel remotely unwell, I whip up a batch of this super flavourful and nourishing soup. Serves 4–6.

This is a versatile soup. You can play around with quantities depending on your taste, and use whatever veges are in season: potatoes, pumpkin, parsnip, Jerusalem artichoke, yams, cauliflower, mushrooms, shredded cabbage.

Red lentils are quick to cook in this soup, but you could instead add cooked brown lentils, or cooked beans such as pinto or adzuki. 

For an even more Asian flavour, add some chopped Vietnamese mint while cooking, or garnish with freshly chopped coriander.

Recipe first published in Organic NZ, June/July 2018

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Ingredients 

  • 1                 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2–3             garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 T              ginger, grated
  • 1 T              soy sauce
  • 1 T              vinegar (balsamic or apple cider)
  • ¼ t              chilli (or more, to taste)
  • salt to taste
  • 1 T              coconut or olive oil
  • ½ cup         red lentils
  • 1 litre          stock or water
  • 2–3 stalks   celery
  • 1                 large carrot, sliced
  • 2 cups        kumara, cubed
  • 2 cups        broccoli or cauliflower florets
  • 2 cups        chopped leafy greens such as kale, cabbage, spinach, silverbeet, puha or nettle
  • 1 T              miso, dissolved in ½ cup hot water
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 2–3 T          karengo seaweed, dried

Method

  1. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, then add the first 7 ingredients.
  2. Put the lid on, reduce heat, and let the base ingredients ‘sweat’ for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Add lentils and stock or water, and bring to a simmer.
  4. After 10 minutes, add celery and carrots.
  5. After another 5 minutes, add kumara.
  6. Once root veges and lentils are becoming soft, add broccoli and cook a further 5 minutes.
  7. Add leafy greens and cook 5 more minutes.
  8. Turn off heat, add lemon juice and miso, and stir through.
  9. Put some karengo to each person’s bowl, then ladle in the soup.
Philippa Jamieson was editor of Organic NZ magazine (2008-2021) and is now the editor of the monthly e-news and website content.