Hearty Chicken Soup

Cold season has hit!  Thankfully its just a cold and not the flu.  So the past few days have been spent drinking many cups of tea with honey and eating plenty of soup.  I'm not good at being sick...I have a hard time taking it easy and resting.  I always feel like I need to be doing something, and that usually means cooking/baking.  So the other day I had made a potato and corn chowder  but when I'm sick I want a clear broth...so tonight I made a hearty chicken soup.

Hearty Chicken Soup

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

1 large shallot (or onion, I didn't have an onion so I used shallot)

3 celery stalks, diced

2 large carrots, diced

3 medium potatoes, diced

1 cup each firmly packed green and red chard roughly chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 table spoon dried oregano

1 table spoon rosemary chopped

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 cups gluten free chicken broth

1 cup water

1-2 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced

salt and pepper to taste (shouldn't need to much with the chicken stock)

*try to dice the veggies all about the same time for even cooking.  I tend to dice mine bigger but I like the chunkiness of the soup.  I also don't peel my potatoes first, I like to leave the skin on, it adds a slightly different texture to the soup.

In a large pot heat one table spoon of grapeseed oil over medium heat.  Add shallot and cook for two minutes.  Add the celery and carrots and cook for an additional five minutes until softened.  Add potatoes, garlic, rosemary, oregano, and red pepper flakes.  turn heat to medium high and add one cup of water and four cups of chicken stock.  Bring to a boil for 5-10 minutes, add chicken and stir.  Once chicken has cooked through add the green and red chard, stir well.  Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.  Enjoy with a little grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Noodles in hot ginger and garlic broth

(Adapted from the recipe Noodles in hot ginger broth from the cook book: Allergy-Free Cooking)

Noodles in hot ginger and garlic broth

5 cups of gluten free chicken stock

large chunk of fresh ginger (about 1/2 ounce) peeled and fine julienne strips

3 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

7 0z of rice noodles (thin or medium)

8 baby corn, halved lengthwise

4 scallions sliced diagonally

1 packet of shitake mushrooms sliced (there are usually about 8-10 mushrooms in a pack)

(The originally recipe calls for 2 bok choy roughly chopped, and 1/2 cup of bean sprouts...I didn't have any so I made it with out)

Simmer broth, ginger, garlic and soy sauce for 3 minutes.

Bring to a light boil and add noodles. Cook as directed on package.

In a sautéed pan add one tablespoon of oil, and sauté baby corn to give a bit of color, then add the mushrooms. Cook for 1-2 additional minutes

Carefully add the baby corn and mushrooms to the pan of broth and noodles.

(If following the original recipe, add the bok choy, simmer until tender. Add bean sprouts at the very end

Simmer for an additional two minutes.

Garnish with scallions.

Serves 4.

Shrimp Stir-Fry and Egg Drop Soup

[caption id="attachment_47" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Shrimp Stir-Fry and Egg Drop Soup"][/caption]

(Both of these recipes are adapted from Martha Stewart's magazine - Everyday Food)

SHRIMP STIR-FRY


1 Pound Shrimp

2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon canola oil

2 small onions, cut into wedges

9 ounces button mushrooms, quartered

1 large red bell pepper (I left these out)

1 3/4 pound bok choy, cut into 1 1/2 pieces, stems and green pieces separated

1/4 pound snow peas trimmed

5 paper-thin slices fresh ginger

1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 teaspoons cold water

lime wedges for serving

~In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil with tablespoon water; pour over shrimp.  Marinate 5 minutes (RESERVE marinade).

~ Heat canola oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over high heat.  Cook shrimp about 1-2 minutes on each side.  Set aside

~Stirring constantly, cook onions in skillet over high heat until browned, 5 minutes.  Add mushrooms; cook 2 minutes.  Add red pepper and bok choy stems; cook 3 minutes.  Add peas and ginger; cook 1 minute.  Add marinade, cornstarch mixture, bok choy greens and shrimp.  Cook until heated through.  Season with soy sauce as desired, serve with limes.

EGG DROP SOUP

2 Cans reduced sodium gluten free chicken broth

3 Cups of water

4 teaspoons gluten free soy sauce

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

8oz snow peas cut into 1/2 inch pieces

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Rice Vinegar, Sesame Oil and Scallions for seasoning

~ In a large saucepan, bring 2 cans reduced-sodium gluten free chicken broth (14.5 ounces each), 3 cups of water, 4 teaspoons gluten free soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger to a boil.

~Add 8 ounces snow peas, cut into 1/2 -inch pieces.  Simmer over medium heat until vegetables are tender, about 2-3 minutes.

~ While stirring slowly in ONE direction, pour 3 lightly beaten large eggs in a steady stream into soup (eggs will feather).  Remove from heat.  Season with rice vinegar, sesame oil and scallions as desired.

Enjoy!

Thai Chicken Soup

Thai Chicken Soup
(Adapted from Elana’s Pantry – Thank you!!)

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 shallots, chopped
1 teaspoon crushed ginger
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
8 sprigs cilantro, chopped
4 cups chicken stock
28 ounces coconut milk
1 tablespoon agave
½ pound crimini mushrooms
1 head broccoli
1 can of baby corn (strained and cut in half lengthwise)
1 pound chicken breasts skinless-boneless, halved lengthwise, sliced on bias, cut into 18 inch thick pieces
2 Serrano chilies
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons Thai red curry paste
3 tablespoons fish sauce

Garnish (Optional)
Minced cilantro
Scallions
Lime wedges

~ Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium heat
~ Add shallots, red pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, cilantro, stirring frequently until softened (about 2-5 minutes)
~ Stir in stock, coconut mil and agave and bring to a simmer
~ Pour broth through a fine mesh strainer and discard solids (shallots, cilantro and red pepper flakes)
~ Return broth to saucepan
~ Reduce heat to medium, add mushrooms and broccoli and cook until tender (2 to 3 minutes)
~ Add Serrano Chilies
~ Add chicken and cook, stirring constantly, until no longer pink (1 to 3 minutes)
~ Combine lime juice, curry paste and fish sauce in a small bowl then stir into soup
~ Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, scallions and a lime wedge

(Elana, Thank you for letting me add this to my blog with my own adaptation of your Thai Chicken Soup. )