Immunity Soup

Immunity Soup

January 12, 2014 – 4:46 pm

This recipe is especially good to increase strong digestion (known as healthy ‘Spleen Qi’) and to reduce water & damp retention. In fact, strong ‘Spleen Qi’ digestive energy is the basis of good immunity and overall health. Keeping your spleen strong ensures that your digestive system will have the ability to extract all the nutrients from your food so your body can stay well nourished and full of vitality.

The super star ingredient is the up-and-coming gluten-free Job’s Tears (which is technically a seed, like quinoa).

Job’s Tears boosts metabolism, increases energy, preserves longevity, encourages weightloss and beautifies the skin.

This is a super tasty recipe – enjoy!

Job's Tears

Ingredients:

2 cups Job’s Tears (we have it at our Lafayette clinic or you can check Ranch 99 Market)
1 whole cooked chicken
3 large sweet potatoes
4 carrots
1 lb. kale or other green vegies
4 celery stalks
1 large onion
3 garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
Some olive oil
A bunch of water
Salt to taste

This can be adapted to serve any size group. The above makes a ton of soup for a large pot. You can use less ingredients to serve fewer folks.

Job's Tears Soup

Directions:

In a small bowl of water, soak Job’s Tears for 1-2 hours along with a tsp of salt. Strain and rinse again before cooking.

Remove all the meat from a whole, cooked chicken. In the meantime, make chicken broth using the bones, gizzard and giblets of the chicken, the vegetables (carrots, onions, celery), the spices (garlic, bay leaves) and water. While this is going on, peel and chop sweet potatoes to desired size. Also chop up the kale or other green vegies.

When the stock is done, remove the chicken parts. (I tie the chicken parts together so I can easily remove them and keep the vegies in the base of the soup.)

Strain and rinse the Job’s Tears and add with the chopped sweet potatoes to the chicken broth. Cook for 40-60 mintues until the sweet potatoes are at desired mush level. The Job’s Tears should still be a little crunchy (like pozole). Add cooked chicken and kale. When adding the chicken, it’s nice to shred it with your hands as opposed to chopping it, for better texture. Bring to a rolling boil then reduce heat and serve.

Bon appetite!