Immune Boosting Green Soup

It’s that time of year when everyone in the house has a bit of a running nose and is feeling a bit run down.  Time for some immune boosting and what better way to do that than with a yummy soup, filled with nutrients and goodness.  And even better it’s easy to make and easy to eat.  It’s one of those things that the Thermomix does best.


Immune Boosting Green Soup with homemade Tortillas

 

Any of your favourite bread such a some ciabatta would be delicious but today I served this soup with some cheesy toasted homemade tortilla – my latest bread discovery!

Lemon and Silverbeet

 There are heaps of ways to boost your immune system and this soup contains just a few:

• Garlic is a powerful immune booster that stimulates infection fighting white cells, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production.
• Vitamin C increases production of infection fighting white blood cells and antibodies especially interferon, the antibody that coats cell surfaces and prevents the entry of viruses.
• Vitamin E is found in sources such as sunflower seeds and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
• Zinc plays an important role in the immune defence system and can be found in legumes and seeds. Soaking them increases their bioavailability which is important for vegetarians.  Dulse and other sea vegetables also contain Zinc and Vitamin E.
• Omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in flax seed oil act as immune booster by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up bacteria.

Fresh Broccoli and Silverbeet

So make you and your family a big pot of this immune booster to keep the chills away or at least reduce their stay.

 
Immune Boosting Green Soup
250g green lentils
800g water
1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 tbls olive oil
1 large or 2 small potatos cubed
1 stick celery roughly chopped
1 small or ½ a large broccoli roughly chopeed
1 bunch of silverbeet with stalks removed and well rinsed to get rid of any grit and any crawling friends
1 tsp vege concentrate
1 tbls fresh thyme
Juice of half a lemon
Pinch of nutmeg
2 tbls flaxseed oil

• Soak lentils in  water for 4-6 hours
• Place basket in Thermomix bowl and pour in soaked lentils and enough water to cover and cook for 20 minutes on speed 1 at 100°
• Remove basket of lentils and set aside stock water for later
• Place onion and garlic in Thermomix bowl and chop for 5 seconds on speed 6
• Add oil and sauté for 3 mintues at 100° on speed 2
• Add potato and sauté for an additional 5 minutes at 100° on speed 2
• Add celery, broccoli, lentils, thyme, vege stock and water and cook for 10 minutes at 100° on speed 2
• Add silverbeet and lemon juice and cook for a final 5 minutes 100° on speed 2
• Add flaxseed oil and blend for 10 seconds on speed 4

Serve with a dollop of yoghurt and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds

Immune Boosting Green Soup

Enjoy!