Green Goddess Immune Boosting Soup ~ this nourishing soup is the cold weather equivalent to your power smoothie. It’s a vibrant soup packed with everything you need to get through cold and flu season without so much as a sniffle.
* Today Iโm teaming up with Pavilions and their O Organicsยฎ line of USDA-certified organic products.
staying healthy with green goddess immune boosting soup
I’m so excited about today’s post because I’m sharing some of my best secrets for making it through the upcoming cold and flu season unscathed. This is my favorite time of year, and I don’t want to miss out on a single day being sick. I take every precaution to stay healthy, including getting my flu shot the minute they’re available, washing my hands a LOT, buying healthy O Organics products, and making this gorgeous immune boosting soup often.
your daily dose of greens…in a comforting soup!
During the fall and winter months most of us don’t have the luxury of stopping by the farmers market to stock up on fresh greens and veggies, so there’s less motivation to create vibrant healthy meals. Our lives are busier, too, and we’re eating more comfort food, which means lots of white flour, cheese, sugar, and fat. That’s where this soup comes in. I’ve created the recipe specifically to target and strengthen the immune system ~ every ingredient in this magical soup has a job to do to help keep those dreaded germs at bay. And I’ve made it with super convenient O Organics products, which are available in my area exclusively at Pavilions stores.
What’s in this soup, and why~
- chicken stock: grandma was right on, chicken soup can heal all kinds of ills. It provides hydration, clears clogged passages, and eases cold and flu symptoms.
- spinach and other dark leafy greens: they’re high in Vitamin C and antioxidants to fight infections.
- lemon juice: citrus fruit is high in Vitamin C, which boosts the immune system by helping to produce white blood cells to fight off infections.
- broccoli: rich in anti-oxidants.
- garlic: fights infections.
- ginger: fights inflammations and toxins.
- turmeric: an anti-inflammatory spice that’s been used medicinally for centuries.
- cayenne: a powerful anti-inflammatory.
- black pepper: like cayenne it calms inflammation and promotes sweating.
- wasabi: relieves congestion.
- pumpkin seeds: high in Zinc for strengthening the immune system.
- coconut milk: provides Vitamin C, anti-oxidants, and energy.
- yogurt: has germ fighting probiotics.
Some other immune boosting ingredients you can add if you like ~
- mushrooms: antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-oxidant.
- carrots: the Vitamin A helps build immunity.
- cauliflower or Brussels Sprouts, rich in anti-oxidants just like broccoli.
- bell peppers: these powerhouses have even more Vitamin C than citrus fruit (red peppers have the most.)
Why O Organic?
When I buy an O Organics product, whether it’s a bottle of honey or a package of chicken thighs, I know I’m getting a product grown or produced without:
- pesticides
- herbicides
- fertilizers from synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge
- ionizing radiation
- growth hormones
- antibiotics
- GMOs
That’s big. Toxins can build up over time in the body and wreak havoc with our health, so it’s just common sense to try to avoid them. Pavilions offers hundreds of organic products, in every aisle, right there in my regular grocery store and all at a great value, so I don’t have to think twice.
TIP: I’ve started to buy a few organic products every time I shop to slowly build up my inventory. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, but every little bit helps.
a blender is an essential kitchen tool
I like to use my Vitamix to make this soup because it’s powerful enough to really puree everything into a silky smooth soup and even heats it up in the process. Talk about convenient! You can use a regular blender or food processor, as well, and then heat the soup on the stove, but cook it just long enough to heat it through, you want to retain all those nutrients.
That vibrant color lets you know you’re putting something good into your body!
my final secret for surviving cold and flu season…
It’s my favorite new obsession ~ grocery delivery, have you tried it yet? The box arrives at my door at the time I specify, everything is perfect, (no dented cans or ugly apples ) and they even keep me informed via text message so I know just when my groceries will arrive.
I’ve done it a few times recently and I can already tell I’m going to use it a lot this winter. It’s been a lifesaver when I’m super busy, or somebody in the house is sick, or frankly when I’m just tired and don’t feel like going out. There are lots of options for grocery delivery these days, it’s the hot new thing and everybody is trying to get in on the action, but I like to stick with my regular Pavilions store because I know it so well, and I trust the quality I’ll get.
green goddess soup is only one of lots of healthy soup choices on the blog
~ my SLIMMING DETOX SOUP and my WEIGHT LOSS SOUP are both helpful before and after the holiday season when you just need to press the re-set button and get back on track. My RADIANT BOK CHOY SOUP makes the most of turmeric’s magical healing properties, and my ROASTED WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP is packed with nutrients and has the most gorgeous crimson color.
Green Goddess Immune Boosting Soup
Ingredients
- 3 cups baby spinach, or O Organics Organic Super Greens Blend
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 Tbsp fresh ginger, sliced
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/4 tsp wasabi powder, optional
- 1 cup chicken broth, or Vegetable Broth
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- pinch salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 squeeze of fresh lemon, or lime
garnish
- 1/8 cup broccoli florets, lightly steamed
- chia seeds
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, thinned with milk to drizzling consistency (use coconut milk for vegan)
Instructions
- Put the first 11 ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until smooth and steaming hot.
- Pour into a bowl and garnish with broccoli florets, a swirl of yogurt, and chia seeds.
Nutrition
Make it your own ~
- Use any dark leafy green as the base of your soup ~ kale, Swiss chard, watercress, or beet greens would all be healthy choices.
- For a vegan alternative, use vegetable broth or water instead of the chicken broth.
Hi just wondering if you steam/heat many of the ingredients before blending or after. Thanks!
Hi Kristie ! I don’t steam or cook anything first, I add it raw to the blender. If you use a high speed blender like a Vitamix it will heat up the soup as it blends, because the motor is so powerful. If you use a regular blender or food processor, i would heat the soup briefly on the stove or in the microwave, just enough to get it hot, but that’s it. That way you’ll preserve all the nutrients.
This soup looks and sounds delicious! I love the addition of the turmeric, one of my favorites! I definitely am giving this a try! Who doesn’t want to stay healthy this time of year?
Turmeric is really awesome stuff, I’m always looking for new ways to use it ๐
What a gorgeous bowl of soup! And it’s packed with SO many goodies! I love that you took a smoothie and turned it into something cozy and savory. This is right up my alley.
I was never much into green smoothies, but when you make it into a warm cozy soup, I’m all over it ๐
Oh my my my! It’s so pretty! The bright green color just glows. Pinning!
I’m going to make the soup- I’m curious about all those flavors together- sounds delicious. Also I clicked on the Pavilions link and discovered I can get a free first home delivery and $20.00 off first order! Sounds good- thanks Sue!
You’re going to get hooked on delivery Cathy!
And they send me emails all the time for free delivery, and other good deals, so they are really trying to make it super affordable, I love it.
First of all your photos are gorgeous! My kids love green smoothies…so I’m sure they’ll love this soup too!
Thanks so much Aimee, it was fun to photograph this soup, for sure. I think this might be a fun way to get some healthy greens into your kids this winter!
Sue, that is the singular most beautiful bowl of soup I have ever seen. I am sitting here scrolling up and down just basking in its beauty!
Haha Tina, thanks so much, I was hoping that it would have that effect ๐ I’m now officially obsessed with green soup!!
I could gaze at this bowl of deliciousness all day Sue – absolutely beautiful. I will have to try these products, just found out they are available close to my home at Safeway. Here’s to staying healthy all winter!
You also really have to try the delivery Tricia, it’s a lifesaver for us bloggers ๐
I have never seen a sexier green than this, Sue. YUM!
I love that Angie!
The color of this is just amazing Sue and I love all the wonderful ingredients in it. A win-win for sure. I will look for that broth, thanks for sharing>
thanks Chris ~ I was stunned that spinach turns that gorgeous color when you blend it up, I guess I never really got into green smoothies so I never knew, what a great surprise! Have a wonderful week ๐