Immune Boosting Chicken Soup
When I was a little, my great Aunt used to make this amazing Polish chicken soup called Rosół to help fight a cold or flu. It was amazing and you could instantly feel it’s healing effects with every mouthful. If we wanted noodles with our soup, she would instantly beat up a few fresh eggs and slowly pour the mix in a thin stream into the simmering stock which made the best egg noodles. With a few tweaks to her original recipe, the ingredients in my chicken soup have been specifically selected to help fight cold + flu. Don’t be scared off by the amount of garlic in the recipe – after a few minutes the flavour will infuse into the stock and give it richness and density. It’s the key to it’s flavour and staying cold and flu free all winter. I can guarantee that one bowl of this soup and you will instantly feel the healing effects. It only takes 10 minutes to make and it’s totally delicious. Sip it slowly, and enjoy.
What’s good about it:
Garlic, turmeric and ginger are potent detoxifying and antiviral herbs to help the body get rid of toxins, stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, aid digestion and boost your immune system. Coriander also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight disease. Adding a little protein such as chicken will supply your body with essential amino acids your body needs to heal and nourish. The perfect ingredients to help you get through the winter cold.
Serves 4
time it takes: 10 minutes
10 cloves garlic, smashed
(approx 1 whole bulb)
2 tablespoon finely grated ginger
1 tablespoon fresh grated turmeric (see notes)
1 litre (35 1/4 fl oz) chicken or vegetable stock
1 litre (35 1/4 fl oz) water
500 g (17 1/2 oz) free range / organic chicken breast, cut into chunks ( see notes on using whole chicken)
2 bunches coriander, chopped
¼ cup (60 ml / 2 oz) mirin or rice wine (optional but delicious)
3 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
Combine the garlic, turmeric, ginger, stock, water and chicken into a large pot.
Simmer for 5 – 10 minutes over a low heat until chicken is cooked through and flavours have infused into the stock.
Add mirin, tamari and coriander just before serving.
Serve in large bowls and sip slowly. Enjoy.
Notes:
Vegetarians can use vegetable stock in place of chicken stock and my lane kluski or silken tofu in place of the chicken.
For lane kluski (polish for egg noodles) beat 2 eggs and pour in a thin stream over the simmering stock for the best egg noodles you’ll ever eat.
Fresh turmeric is available from your local grocer. if using dry then only use 1/4 teaspoon but fresh is best for it’s anti-viral properties.
Other vegetables can be added if you like such as shiitake mushroom, spinach, kale.
A little chilli or my XO Sauce can be added for a little heat.
This soup only takes 10 minutes to make, which is why chicken breasts are used.
Obviously you can make this soup using a whole chicken, using all of the stock and removing the tender meat from the chicken then stirring through the stock before serving. This will take approx 1 1/2 hours.
Nutrition per serve:
Protein: 27 g
Total Fat: 7 g
Saturated: 2 g
Carbs: 2 g
Calories: 193
kilojoules: 807
I am adding this to my soup list, this sounds brilliant. I’ll be making the vegetarian version.
YOU ROCK T!!!
These recipes are unreal, c u soon
I love the idea of that much garlic, plus ginger, turmeric and coriander!
I prefer simmering an entire chook in a big pot, then adding vegetables and spices. I would have thought your aunt used a whole chook, as opposed to breasts.
Margaret – Teresa did mention that she had made a few tweaks to the original recipe. A hole chook would prob give more depth of flavour to the soup, but then there is no way it would be done in ten minutes either… I love that this is such a quick meal, and the garlic ginger and turmeric sound amazing!
I’m unable to eat onion, garlic etc. Would you recommend replacing the garlic with an alternate or will it be fine without it?
Just use Turmeric, ginger + a little chilli. It will be lovely
This sounds wonderful. My son has the beginnings of a cold and is out in the wind today at a sports carnival. This is the perfect dinner for him tonight!
I’ve just woken up this morning feeling unwell, so this will be my dinner – thank you, great timing! Any more recipes for assisting getting over a cold or boosting immune for winter once on the mend would be greatly appreciated !
Hi Teresa, I just wanted to say how much I love receiving your recipes. They are always so totally awesome especially as you give alterations/variations to suit someone like me who chooses a gluten and diary free diet (low in sugar too). I can’t wait to try this one out especially with all that yuumy garlic … I’ll be adding the chilli too. Thanks heaps
Hi Teresa. Thank you for your flow of wonderful recipes for promoting health and fitness. I have been making chicken stock for a while but can not get a good thick geletine (which is supposed to be the immune building goodness bit ). I am using organic chicken bones, pounded and cut up and add vinegar to draw out the nutrients but never get geletine. Would you have the secret handed down to you from your great Aunt?
Yum Yum Yum! Just had a taste test and it’s delicious. My partner and I are currently fighting colds at the moment so I thought I’d try this one. Thanks for the yummy recipe! We love garlic! Could not source fresh tumeric but I was promised by my local spice man that he’d have more soon!! Cannot wait to try it again with fresh tumeric! Cheers!
I made this for Brett and I two nights ago and it was amazing!!! Perfect for the New Zealand cold : )
Awesome sel. Yes P + I have been eating this soup all week. It’s helped to build up my immune system and fight off the flu. Miss you guys! hope to see you very soon Txxx
OMG this is amazing! Thank you so much
Hi! Teresa,
There appears to be carrots etc. in the soup picture but not in recipe.
If this is the case, which vegetables & quantities please.
Thank you
No Carrots Dianne – it is grated turmeric !
Very good! Wow – the fresh grated tumeric is something else!! I had read in the past about how incredibly good tumeric was for you, but never thought of it other than the powder. Its an incredibly pungent herb, and I started with a bit less than recommended – found it an unusual but agreeable taste. Will be looking out for other recipes I can add this to, hard for me to understand what other flavours to combine it with – i guess sweet curry based things such as your vegie curry, and anything else with ground tumeric…
I cooked this last night, it’s yummy, healthy and easy!
Teresa, this was absolutely AWESOME. Easy to make, quick, so tasty and the house smelt delicious while it was cooking. I made this because the family has an awful cold, and it making everyone feel better. Thanks heaps – sharing this one with all my friends.
I cannot wait to make this tonight! Any chance you can provide an alternative ingredient for Mirin or Rice Wine as I’m pregnant and want to steer clear of any alcohol. Thanks!
Wow! Thanks for this delicious soup recipe, Teresa. I made this for lunch for my husband & myself, it was so tasty.
Hi Teresa, l am enjoying making and eating the various recipes you send thank you so easy and yummy.. I want to make the soup for my daughter but is not keen on coriander. Can I replace coriander with something else as good.
Hi Angela, use parsley. it’s perfect !
This may be a stupid question but do you cook the chicken at all before putting it in the soup? Planning on making this tonight, sounds great!
Hi Teresa,
I made this soup tonight. I have been very unwell all day with a cold a in my lucid moments I kept thinking I would make this soup. I did, and loved it (so did all of the fam Miss 3 and Miss 12 and hubby) and also loved that it was made and ready in such a short time. i am feeling better already. Thankyou!
This recipe is exactly what I was looking for – I just bought fresh turmeric and fresh ginger from my organic delivery service and with a house full of sick people I need something to help fight off the germs.
Going to make it in the pressure cooker with free range organic chicken legs.
Thanks!