We all remember our mums’ making this when we were feeling sick as children, or even as adults!

Why is it we crave certain foods when we are not feeling well?

Our bodies are telling us something and we instinctively know what feels good for us to eat when we are not feeling well.

As Hippocrates said, “Let Food be your medicine and Medicine your Food”.

This is a simple dish and can be adapted or tweaked according to taste.

 

Ingredients

• 1 small fillet chicken ideally free range
• Finely chopped vegetables.
• Courgettes
• Carrot
• Celery
• Peppers
• Shallot or small red onion
• Spring onion

These can be bought in readymade soup mix, but it takes minutes to chop assorted vegetables and gives a better taste and texture to your soup.

 

Herbs

Any of the following – freshly chopped.

• Thyme, sage, tarragon
• 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube
• Soya sauce few drops.
• 500 ml water – you can add more as you go along.
• Salt and pepper ½ – 1 tsp each
• A small handful of Orzo [ dried pasta] or pearl barley.

 

Preparation

• Add some olive oil into a frying pan to heat.
• Add onions and garlic and sauté / gently fry for a few minutes
• When they are starting to colour add finely chopped vegetables and increase heat.
• For extra richness add a knob of unsalted butter.
• Salt and pepper
• Add a few drops of soya sauce to mix
• Let these sauté for approximately 5 minutes you want to

Meantime…

• In a large saucepan boil the water and add the stock paste or cube to dissolve.
• Shred the chicken into small pieces and add once the water is boiling.

 

Add the sauteed ingredients and stir.

Add the Orzo pasta and keep stirring.

The chicken will cook quickly in the broth.

After a few minutes start to taste and add extra seasoning if required.

Reduce heat and allow to simmer for several minutes until all vegetables cooked according to your liking.

Serve in a large bowel with a slice of good wheaten bread.

 

This is a perfect dish if you are feeling unwell with a cold, flu or viral illness when your digestion is weak, and your appetite is reduced but you still want to eat. It is easy to digest and nutritious and energising.

 

Different variations.

1. Chilli peppers chopped fine and added at 1st sauté stage to add heat and flavour. Best for kapha balancing and to promote digestion. It can also help vata imbalance.

2. Fresh slices of Ginger can also be added at the same stage for gentler heating effect as well as enhancing digestion.

3. Add a squeeze of lime juice at the end is to be good for pitta and vata imbalances and can also aid digestion.

4. If you want more heaviness and sweetness with the dish add coconut milk and reduce water quantity.

5. If you want a lighter soup you can leave out the Orzo pasta and add noodles or keep it as a soup broth.