It’s officially winter, and that means that colds and flu are doing the rounds. So we reach to our comfort foods to make us feel better, and some of us go for the hearty sumptuous meals, and some even reach for the sugar! This isn’t a good idea when you’re suffering from a virus, as sugar can impact your immune system. The best way forward is to get all the foods that are full of vitamins, minerals, and have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. So, here’s a hearty, healthy soup, to kick that cold into touch.

Ingredients (Complete With Their Health Benefits)

• 4 tablespoons of olive oil (healthier than vegetable or canola, it’s full of good fats, high in antioxidants, as well as heart-healthy monounsaturated fats)
• 3 cloves of garlic (garlic is high in allicin)
• 1 diced onion (high in antiseptic properties, like garlic)
• 3 medium diced carrots (high in vitamin A)
• 2 ribs of celery, diced (has folate, vitamin B6 and numerous antioxidants)
• 32 ounces of vegetable broth (when done right, it’s hearty and gut-healing)
• 26 ounces of diced tomatoes (high in lycopene, which can help prevent cancer and heal your eyes)
• 1 red potato, diced (keep the skin on to get a high dose of potassium)
• 1½ tablespoons of honey (one of the best antiseptics around)
• 3 teaspoons turmeric (this powerhouse helps your blood, heart, and body fight against disease)
• 5 ounces of crimini mushrooms, diced (full of phosphorous, selenium and copper)
• ½ cup frozen sweet corn (full of lutein, which helps your vision)
• Salt and black pepper to taste (full of potassium and trace minerals)

Method

1. Using a large stock pot pour the olive oil in and heat on a medium to high setting. Add in the carrots, garlic, onions, and celery. Sauté these until they are nice and soft.
2. Add in the vegetable broth and chopped tomatoes. Bring to the boil. Add the chopped potatoes, and then reduce the heat until the mixture starts to simmer.
3. Add in the turmeric and honey, and cook it all up until the potatoes are nice and soft. Once this is done, add the mushrooms and the corn. Allow the soup to simmer for another 5 minutes. At this point, you may want to blitz the soup into a nice creamy consistency, there are some blenders and soup mixes over here, but just be sure to blend it until it is without lumps.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste, and bon appetit!

Choosing the hearty soups in the run-up to Christmas and during the whole winter season means you need to stock up on your fruits and vegetables. Root vegetables are great at this time of year, and so you can get into the habit of making these tasty soups. Not only this, but they keep great for a couple of days, and you can batch cook enough, portion them up and put them in the freezer. So whenever you want a nice comforting, hearty meal, just get one out of the freezer and off you go! Don’t be afraid of experimenting with different styles of food. Carrot and coriander is one of the most nourishing ones at winter, but when you are looking for the most vitamin-packed meals to get rid of a cold, this soup takes some beating!

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