Honestly, who doesn’t love a good ol’ bowl of soup? Just a slurp of that warm broth can make a cold day much, much better. One great thing about soups is that they come in various forms! Yes, technically, they’re all liquid, but some are more greasy, some are creamy and thick, and some are simply as light as a hot tea can be!

Apart from being the lovable comfort foods that they are, soups can really do a body and soul good. You would need healthy soups even more during confinement to make your recovery a little bit easier and of course, tastier. If you think you have to compromise the taste when making soups during your confinement, you could not be more wrong! 

On that note, here are 6 easy peasy healthy and delicious soup recipes that you have to give a try!

Barley Mushroom Soup

A soup that’s perfect for a cold night – or any time of the day for that matter! Barley is rich in many beneficial nutrients. It can help lower your cholesterol levels which, if you are on the weight loss journey, would do wonders in helping you maintain your weight. Mushroom also carries a lot of benefits like protein and fibre. One particular benefit is that they contain powerful antioxidants along with B vitamins that are great for supporting your immune system and preventing damage to your tissues and cells.

YOU’LL NEED:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup barley
• Salt and pepper to taste

STEPS:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. 
2. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook and keep stirring until the onions are transparent.
3. Throw in mushrooms and continue to cook for a few minutes.
4. Add in chicken broth and barley.
5. Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
6. Cover and let it simmer until the barley becomes tender, for approximately 50 minutes.
7. Season with salt and pepper.  

Credit: AllRecipes

Chicken soup

Can we really go through a list of soups meant for healing without including the one and only chicken soup? No, we simply cannot. Chicken is one of the best animal-based protein out there. It also boosts your immunity and promotes the formation of healthy bones. On top of it all, slurping on chicken soup brings back those nostalgic times when our mom or grandma used to make them for us when we were down with fever. 

YOU’LL NEED:

• • 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
  • 8 cups water
  • Coarse salt
  • 3 or 4 cups medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 6 medium carrots, sliced 1/2 inch thick

  STEPS:

  1. Add in water, chicken, and 1 tablespoon of salt and bring to a boil.
  2. Skim foam
  3. Add in onions, celery, and garlic.
  4. Reduce the heat and let it simmer, partially covered, for approximately 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the breast parts and set aside.
  6. Add carrots and let it simmer, still partially covered, for about 40 minutes.
  7. Remove the remaining chicken pieces and let them slightly cool.
  8. Remove the meat from bones and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  9. Insert desired amount of chicken and save the rest for the next time you are making this soup again.

  Credit: Martha Stewart

   

  Potato Soup

  Another gem people simply do not talk about enough! This soup makes a great substitute for your rice, noodles, or other staples if you feel like changing things up in your menu. Since it is a soup, after all, it is considerably light. However, the potatoes inside would be enough to make you full for a long time. At times when you would like to try out something new, here is the recipe!

  YOU’LL NEED:

  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into bite-sized cubes
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 large scallion, sliced in half lengthwise with yellow and white parts sliced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Salt and fresh-cracked pepper to taste
  • Juice from ½ fresh lemon

  STEPS:

  1. Heat up 2 cups of water in a pot over medium heat and let it simmer.
  2. Add in diced potatoes until they are tender. 
  3. While the potatoes are simmering, melt butter in a different pot and saute sliced leeks.
  4. Back to the first pot; once the potatoes are tender, drain the water and set them aside.
  5. Add the tender potatoes and vegetable broth into the pot with the leeks and heat up.
  6. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. For a stronger taste, drizzle the soup with fresh lemon juice.

   

  Tomato Soup

  It may look basic, but a bowl of tomato soup is more than its delicious taste! Apart from improving your skin and hair condition, tomato soup also protects you against various diseases. It contains an abundance of antioxidants and nutrients. Also, have we mentioned that it is simply delicious? Dip your crusty bread slices in this soup, and you’ll finally understand why the word ‘heavenly’ was created — to describe food like this.

  YOU’LL NEED:

  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 large onion, cut into wedges
  • 3½ cups canned tomatoes
  • 1½ cups water, low sodium vegetable stock, or chicken stock
  • Fine sea salt to taste

  STEPS:

  1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add in water, onion wedges, undrained tomatoes, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  3. Without covering the pan with a lid, let it cook for about 40 minutes. Stir occasionally and add salt if needed.
  4. To give it the soupy texture, blend it and season to taste.
  5. Stop blending when it reaches a consistency that you like.

   

  Lentil Soup

  Lentil is oozing with health benefits! If you are looking for plant-based protein, lentil is among the best. It is rich in dietary fibre, meaning it can aid digestion and prevent constipation which is crucial for your womb recovery. It has anti-ageing property aside from stabilising blood sugar. As if you need any more reasons to give it a try, lentils also help in weight loss! Now you must be super thrilled to get to your kitchen and start cooking, so let’s get right to the recipe!

  YOU’LL NEED:

  • 4 cups chicken bone broth
  • 1½ cups diced tomatoes with green peppers, celery, & onions
  • 3/4 cup lentils
  • 1½ cups frozen pepper & onion blend
  • 1 Tbsp fresh parsley
  • Seasoning to taste

  STEPS:

  1. Mix the broth, tomatoes, lentils, and seasoning in one pot.
  2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
  3. Add in pepper and onion. Simmer for another 10 minutes (or until the lentils feel tender).
  4. If you prefer a thicker consistency, increase the cooking time accordingly.
  5. Throw in fresh herbs and serve your soup warm.

  Credit: SpendWithPennies

   

  Broccoli Soup

  Now, this one’s pretty special! The texture is much, much creamier and the taste is simply addictive. Do we still need to mention its extensive health benefits? Broccoli contains essential vitamins and minerals that will aid your recovery. On top of that, it also contains vitamin C that can help improve your skin! 

  YOU’LL NEED:

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 1¼ cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed
  • 1 potato, peeled and chopped
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste

  STEPS:

  1. In a large saucepan, heat up olive oil and saute the onion and garlic.
  2. Add in chicken broth, broccoli, and potato pieces.
  3. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
  4. Puree the cooked mixture using a hand mixer or blender.
  5. Pour it back into the saucepan and reheat.
  6. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

   

  Depending on how you like your soups, you are free to omit or add in any ingredients. All in all, we hope these recipes have helped you tremendously! You might also prefer other Chinese confinement food recipes that include those herbal soups as well. Don’t worry, we’ve also got that covered for you! Go through our website to see the different kinds of soups we serve for new moms that can aid their recovery in various ways.