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legumefree
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Healing Chicken and Vegetable Soup
This Healing Chicken and Vegetable soup is the ultimate comfort food, packed with nutrition and nourishing ingredients to support and boost your immune system. It’s quick to prepare (in just 30 minutes), making it a wholesome go-to meal for busy days.
It’s one of my go-to meals for when anyone in the family feels a bit run down, it really is food for the soul.
Health benefits
Starting with bone broth, the most nourishing ‘super food’ and digestive tonic of all. For all you need to know about bone broth and how to make it click HERE.  A good dose of protein and a rainbow of carbohydrate and fibre rich vegetables…what more could you ask for from a meal?
Ingredients
This chicken vegetable soup recipe combines diced chicken thighs, fresh vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and zucchini, and ginger and garlic, all simmered in a rich chicken stock. A garnish of coriander adds a fresh finish to this nourishing bowl.
How to make this healing chicken vegetable soup
Start by stir-frying chicken, garlic, and ginger in olive oil until the chicken is translucent. Add the broth and shiitake mushrooms, then bring to a simmer. Add the vegetables and cook until just tender, adjusting the seasoning to taste before serving with fresh coriander leaves.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve this gluten free soup hot with a sprinkle of fresh coriander (cilantro) for added freshness. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or frozen for longer storage. Reheat gently over low heat to preserve the flavours and textures.
Vary this healing chicken and vegetable soup to suit
For a vegetarian option, substitute the chicken with sliced omelette and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock. If you’re avoiding garlic or onion, simply omit them or use garlic-infused oil. Feel free to customise the vegetables to suit your family’s preferences or what you have on hand (green beans, spinach, etc). You could also add noodles to turn it into a very nourishing chicken noodle soup.
For more delicious, easy to make healthy soup recipes, click HERE.
Healing Chicken and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 clove/s garlic - crushed or finely grated
- 1 tbsp ginger root - finely grated
- 8 boneless and skinless chicken thighs - diced
- 1 ltr chicken broth or stock
- 1½ tsp sea salt - if your broth is already salted reduce to taste
- 10 shiitake mushrooms - sliced
- 4 carrot/s - sliced
- ½ broccoli - broken into florets
- 2 red capsicum/s - diced
- 1 zucchini/s - diced
- 1 bunch/s fresh coriander leaves - chopped
Instructions
- Place a large pot over a moderate heat with the oil, garlic, ginger and chicken thighs.
- Stir-fry over a moderate heat for 5 minutes until the chicken looks translucent.
- Add the broth, sea salt and shiitake mushrooms and bring to a simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Then add the carrot, broccoli, capsicum and zucchini and cook for 5 more minutes to slightly soften the vegetables.
- Check the seasoning. Sea salt really brings out the flavour in this simple soup.
Serve
- Serve with the fresh coriander leaves.
Make-ahead
- Re-heat in a pot over a low heat until just hot.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Vegetarian
You can substitute the chicken with egg (I'd make a thin omelette and add that sliced). Use a vegetable broth to replace the chicken broth.Onion and garlic-free
Omit garlic and/ or onion. You can add in a tablespoon of garlic oil if that is tolerated.ÂVary the veggies
Feel free to tailor this to suit the veggies your family enjoys or whatever you have available in the fridge. ÂLike this recipe or have a question? Post it in the comments below.
celery flavor pasta cook chicken peas black pepper chicken breast rice thyme boil calorie bay leaf sodium instructionsÂ
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Health benefits
With protein-rich lamb, nutrient-dense veggies, and Greek yoghurt, Pastitsio provides iron, fibre, calcium and essential vitamins. The use of olive oil and spinach further enhances its healthy and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Ingredients
Traditional spices like cinnamon, oregano, and mixed spice flavour the lamb sauce, which is then layered with a creamy topping made from yoghurt, tahini, and Parmesan. Pasta binds the layers together, creating a savoury, filling meal.
How to make this healthy pastitsio recipe
To make this Greek pastitsion recipe, sauté onions and garlic cloves, then brown the ground lamb with spices. Add tomato passata, veggies, and broth, simmering to meld flavours. Cook the pasta, combine it with the meat sauce, and transfer to a baking dish. Blend the topping ingredients, pour over the pasta, and finish with Parmesan and pine nuts before baking.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve with fresh parsley and a leafy salad for balance. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container, reheating in a low oven. This dish also works well for prep ahead meal prep.
Vary this healthy pastitsio to suit your dietary needs
This dish is already gluten-free if using the rice quinoa pasta. For dairy-free, swap the topping with a dairy-free bechamel and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. Go vegetarian by substituting lentils for lamb. Make it nut-free by omitting the pine nuts, and adjust the veggies based on what’s in your fridge!
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit any specific dietary requirements.
For more easy to make, delicious heathy meal recipes, click HERE.
Pastitsio
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - extra virgin
- 1 red onion/s - diced
- 4 clove/s garlic - diced
- 600 g lamb mince
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 bay leaf/s
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 60 ml red wine
- 1 zucchini/s - diced into 1 cm pieces
- 2 carrot/s - diced into 1 cm pieces
- 700 g tomato passata (puree)
- 125 ml chicken broth or stock
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - or to taste
- 30 g baby spinach - chopped (1 cup)
- 250 g rice quinoa penne pasta (or any pasta that suits)
Topping
- 1 clove/s garlic
- 500 g natural, Greek or coconut yoghurt - or greek yoghurt (2 cups)
- 2 tbsp hulled tahiniÂ
- 1 egg/s
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ground black pepper
- 25 g parmesan cheese - grated (¼ cup)
- 2 tbsp pinenuts
- ¼ bunch/s fresh parsley leaves - approx. 1 handful, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over a medium heat and add the onion. Sauté for a couple of minutes.
- Add the garlic and lamb mince, sauté to brown the mince.
- Add the cinnamon, mixed spice, bay leaf and oregano and cook for a minute until you smell their fragrance.
- Turn the heat up to high and add the red wine (it should sizzle and reduce quickly and remove the alcohol).
- Reduce the heat and add the tomato passata, broth, zucchini, carrots and seasoning.
- Cover and simmer with the lid ajar for 15-20 minutes.
- Pre-heat you oven to 180°C/ 350°F fan-forced.
- While the sauce is simmering, boil the penne.
- Once it is almost cooked, drain and rinse the pasta and mix in with the sauce and the baby spinach.
- Place into an oven proof serving dish.
- In a food processor or by hand, grate cheese and set aside.
- Then blend the garlic, yoghurt, tahini, sea salt, pepper and egg on a low speed to just combine.
- Pour this over the sauce/ pasta mix, top with the grated parmesan and pine nuts.
- Bake for 10-15 mins or until the cheese is melted and the top is browned.
Serve
- Sprinkle with the chopped parsley leaves and serve with a green, leafy salad.
Thermomix
- I chop the onion and garlic in the Thermomix but cook it all in a pan. I find it cooks better that way, not as sloppy as cooking in the Thermomix. I then use it to grate the cheese and make the topping sauce.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Make ahead
- Re-heat in a low oven until just hot.
Notes
Dairy Free
Make two cups of this Dairy-free Bechamel Sauce to replace the yoghurt. Replace the Parmesan cheese with a generous sprinkling of nutritional yeast flakes and a little bit of salt.Onion and garlic-free
Replace the onion with a small fennel bulb and the garlic a pinch of chilli flakes.Vegetarian
Replace the mince with 2 cans of brown lentils (drained and rinsed). Choose vegetable broth.ÂNut-free
Omit the pine nuts.ÂWine free
Replace the wine with broth or stock (and a tsp of vinegar).Different vegetables
Feel free to switch up the veggies to suit your supplies and tastes. Â ÂI'd love to hear how you like this recipe. Post a comment below and rate this recipe, thanks so much.Â
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A tasty sausage roll always goes down well at anytime. These Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls offer a delicious combination of savoury pork and sweet Granny Smith apples, wrapped in flaky puff pastry. They’re perfect for snacks, parties, or a quick meal. The hint of mustard and thyme brings an aromatic depth, making these rolls irresistible.
They can also be made ahead and simply baked just prior to serving – which is perfect for entertaining or make-ahead meals.Â
Health benefits
Packed with pork mince, grated vegetables, and baby spinach, these sausage rolls are a protein rich meal or snack and a great way to sneak in some extra nutrients. Spinach adds iron, while apples contribute fibre and a touch of sweetness, balancing the savoury flavours. These are packed with nutrition and additive free unlike so many store-bought sausage rolls.
Ingredients
The key ingredients include free-range pork mince, Granny Smith apples, and flaky puff pastry sheets. Grated carrot and baby spinach add texture and colour, while mustard and thyme provide a punch of flavour.
How to make Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls
The instructions for making these sausage rolls is simple. Preheat your oven. Grate the garlic clove, onion, apple, carrot, and spinach, mix them with the ground pork, dried thyme leaves, mustard, and seasoning (salt and pepper) in a large bowl. Spread the pork mixture along the centre of puff pastry strips, roll them up, brush with milk and sprinkle chia seeds (or poppy seeds or sesame seeds) on top. Bake on a baking tray lined with baking paper (parchment paper) until golden brown.
If you own a Thermomix, we’ve also included Thermomix instructions for this recipe.
Turn them into rissoles or patties
You can make these into rissoles or patties by shaping the meat filling into balls, flattening and cooking on the BBQ or in a pan.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve these sausage rolls warm with tomato chutney or sauce. They are great party snacks or lunchbox treats. To store, refrigerate or freeze them before baking for a quick option later. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge or frozen in an airtight container.
Vary these pork and apple sausage rolls to suit your dietary needs
For gluten-free sausage rolls, use gluten-free puff pastry. To make them dairy-free, skip the milk brushing. For an onion and garlic-free version, swap them with finely diced fennel and a pinch of chilli flakes. You can also use chicken or turkey mince for a lighter alternative.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit many specific dietary requirements.
For more easy to make, healthy sausage roll recipes, click HERE.
Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 clove/s garlic - peeled
- 1 red onion/s - peeled
- 2 Granny Smith apple/s - moisture rung from them
- 1 carrot/s - small & grated
- 30 g baby spinach - handful (or alternatively parsley leaves)
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
- ½ tsp sea salt - or to taste
- ground black pepper - good grind
- 500 g free-range pork mince
- 1 sheet Carême All Butter Puff Pastry - I love the wholemeal spelt puff
- 2 tbsp milk (of choice) - to brush pastry
- 1 tsp chia seeds - black
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F (fan-forced) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- In a food processor grate your garlic, onion, apple, carrot and baby spinach. Alternatively, grate / finely chop by hand.
- Mix together with the thyme, mustard, salt, pepper and pork mince until well combined.
- Halve the sheet of puff pastry and divide the mince mixture evenly along the centre and length of both halves of the pastry.
- Roll and pinch together the seam, placing it face down on the baking tray.
- Brush with the milk, sprinkle with the chia seeds and cut into approx. 8 pieces (per log).
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Thermomix
- Chop the apple 10 seconds, speed 5, wring out the moisture and set aside. Chop the garlic, 5 seconds, speed 4. Add the onion, carrot and baby spinach. Chop 10 seconds, speed 5 (or until grated finely). Add back the apple.
- Add the thyme, mustard, seasoning and pork mince and mix reverse, 1 minutes, speed 3.
- Continue as above.
Serve
- Enjoy immediately with your preferred tomato chutney or sauce.
Make ahead
- Make and refrigerate or freeze in an airtight containber until ready to bake.
Notes
MYO pastry
This spelt pastry is perfect for sausage rolls (the savoury version).ÂGluten-free
Use a gluten-free pastry for the sausage rolls.Dairy-free
Omit milk.Onion and garlic-free
Replace the onion and garlic with finely diced fennel (from half a small bulb) and a pinch of chilli flakes.Chicken or turkey
Also delicious with chicken or turkey mince.Â
Like these? Why not post a comment below or rate this recipe.
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