Happy new year!
Did you eat too much over the holidays?
I sure did. Time to start the year fresh and get that body back in shape! Every year I usually do a detox that helps me to get back on track. This year, I thought I’d share my turmeric detox soup with you.
Turmeric is good for so many reasons. You can use fresh or powdered in this recipe. I only happened to have powdered on hand, so that’s what I used. Turmeric’s main compound is curcumin which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. It is also a strong antioxidant. Pepper helps to enhance the absorption of curcumin in the body, so I’ve added a little cayenne pepper into this soup as well. It gives it a nice kick! If cayenne is too much for you, you can substitue regular black pepper.
Here’s what you’ll need: Onion, garlic, lemon, ginger, spinach, turmeric, cayenne pepper, cumin, ground mustard and vegetable stock. I only had vegetable stock concentrate on hand- so I just added it to some hot water to make a broth- super easy!
Start by dicing the onions and putting it in a large saucepan. Bring to a medium high heat and sauté for about 5 minutes until tender and translucent. I always have to wear my handy onion goggles for this part! I don’t add any oil into the pan- the onions will sweat on their own. If they do start to brown and stick to the pan, just add a little bit of water.
While the onions are sautéing begin to grate the ginger and garlic. Your kitchen should be smelling amazing at this point! Once those onions are translucent, add in your ginger and garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes.
Time to add in those amazing spices! Turmeric, cumin, ground mustard and cayenne pepper..mmmm!
Stir the spices through and let them cook with the onions, garlic and ginger for about a minute or so to release all their fragrances.
Time to get the liquids ready. You will need to add in 4 cups of vegetable broth and 2 cups of water. I used a vegetable concentrate for this recipe because it’s what I had on hand. If you are using boxed stock, just use the whole 32oz box. My concentrate calls for 2 teaspoons of concentrate to 1 cup of water. I just add it in to some warm water and mix it to dissolve. It’s great to have on hand when I don’t have boxed stock and it lasts in the fridge up to 6 months. Awesome stuff!
Add your stock and water in and mix thoroughly. Bring the soup to a simmer.
Lastly, add in your spinach and lemon juice. The spinach should wilt rather quickly. At this point you can either let the soup simmer for another 10-15 minutes to really let the flavors develop and combine, or you can serve it right away! I couldn’t wait- so I dished myself some.
You can serve it as is, or garnish with some lemon and parsley. Drink this turmeric soup 1-2 times a day to help you detox your body! Get rid of toxins and just eat clean. Drink lots of water as well!
Turmeric Detox Soup
This soup is a great addition to add to your collection! Perfect for after the holidays when let's face it- we've all eaten WAY too much. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 inch piece of ginger peeled and grated
- 2 large cloves of garlic peeled and grated
- 1 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder or 1 tsp of fresh grated turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper or more if you like it spicy!
- 2 cups of water
- 4 cups of vegetable broth/stock
- 1 handful of baby spinach
- 1 lemon- juiced
Instructions
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In a large saucepan over medium-high heat begin cooking your diced onion for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Next add in your ginger and garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add in all of your spices and cook for a minute to release all those fragrances. Should be smelling great! Time for the liquid. Add in all of your liquids and stir through. Bring the mixture back up to simmer. Lastly, add in the spinach and lemon. Let it simmer on a low heat for another 10-15 minutes and then serve. Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
* I like to eat this turmeric soup 1-2 times a day when I’m detoxing. It helps to rid my body of toxins and any “damage” I may have done to it over the holiday season. If you want to make this more of a meal, get creative! Add in some beans, more vegetables, rice noodles, etc. This makes it a little more filling and can easily be a meal.
Enjoy and have a healthy and happy new year!
Melissa