When you wake up with a cold the first thing you should do in your day is start making this soup. It works wonders and I wholeheartedly recommend that you try it next time you are not feeling well. This is a pretty basic soup and one that you can put together without a lot of effort. If you are feeling lethargic you can use frozen vegetables instead of fresh but obviously you should always use fresh vegetables wherever possible. This is soup is also perfect for dinner when you are trying to slim down. It will fill you up nicely while being low in calories. This soup will take you about 90 minutes from start to serve and will serve 6 people easily. Cooking for less ? Just freeze and use when you need a hearty soup on the go.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 leek, halved, washed, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 large carrot, peeled, diced
- 2 sticks celery, diced
- 2 small zucchini, diced
- 1 swede or turnip, peeled, diced
- 1 1/4 cups dry soup mix, rinsed (sweet peas & lentils)
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 green pepper
- 1 handful green beans, cut in inch pieces
- 2 lbs skinless chicken legs
Directions
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek and garlic.
- Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until soft but not coloured.
- Add carrot, celery,pepper,beans, zucchini and swede. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in soup mix, stock, chicken and 1 cup cold water. Increase heat to high. Bring to the boil.
- Reduce heat to low. Simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or until soup mix and vegetables are tender.
- Remove chicken legs from soup. Allow to cool slightly. Remove meat from bones.
- Roughly chop chicken meat and add to soup. Season with salt and pepper.
- Ladle soup into warmed bowls.
- Serve with fresh toasted rye bread.