I’m sure you’ve all heard the old saying, chicken soup is good for the soul. Every word in that statement is true! There’s nothing like sitting down to a warm bowl of chicken soup on a cold winter day.
IS CHICKEN SOUP HEALING?
Sure is! Why is it the go-to dish for when you have a cold, runny nose, and just feeling in the dumps? It’s loaded with amazing bone broth, it has a ton of nutritious vegetables, it’s warm and soothing which helps break down mucus, and it’s packed with super power foods like ginger and turmeric.
Let’s break down why and what is so magical about this one.
The first magical ingredient, highlight of the show, bone broth
HOW TO MAKE BONE BROTH
It’s super easy! You either need some time or a slow cooker. Most likely you will have the ingredients on hand too. When you’re prepping vegetables such as carrots and onions, save the scrapes and freeze them. They will be perfect for your next bone broth.
Check out this post for an in-depth method on how to make bone broth and which bones to use.
The next cold busing ingredient is turmeric!
Turmeric increases mucus production, which naturally flushes out microbes that clog your respiratory tract. While the antiviral and antibacterial properties of turmeric can help fight infection, its anti-inflammatory property helps in relieving the symptoms of a cough and cold.
I love adding turmeric to my recipes, check out these other posts for more turmeric recipe ideas.
And last but not least ginger!
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates the immune system. This helps to reduce the pain associated with sore throats and improves recovery time.
Ginger also has antimicrobial properties that may help fight infections (bacterial or viral) which makes it extra helpful when you have a cold.
In addition to this Cold Busting Chicken Soup I highly suggest making a turmeric and ginger tea. Check out this Lemon Ginger Tea recipe.
Cold Busting Chicken Soup (Paleo, AIP)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 10 cups bone broth
- 4 celery ribs, chopped
- 4 medium carrots, chopped
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 8 oz small potatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated or chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Set a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and brown chicken thighs. Once brown put aside.
- Add one tbsp olive oil and chopped onions, mushrooms, celery, ginger, and garlic. Saute for 5-6 minutes to soften. Then add broth, chicken, carrots, chopped potatoes, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
- Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken and set aside to cool.
- Add the broccoli and simmer to soften the broccoli. Meanwhile, shred the chicken with two forks, and stir it back into the soup. Once the broccoli is tender, taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Squeeze lime juice on top and serve warm.
