Minestrone Rainbow Soup with Flax Bread

Minestrone Rainbow Soup with Flax Bread

Like a mix-and-match minestrone, this soup covers the liver’s nutritional needs for cleansing. The ingredients can take a bit of effort to gather, chop and cook, or it can be simple. But, like many things in life, the more you put into the soup, the more you’ll get back. The only limit is the size of your pot. Aim to use at least five different colors of vegetables, to get the widest array of phytonutrients. Options: Using cooked chicken makes this a 15-minute meal. For something more filling, feel free to add in some cooked black or white beans. 

Notes

• turnip 1 small, cubed • carrots 2 medium, peeled and sliced • purple cabbage ½ small, chopped • green beans 8 oz, ends trimmed, halved • zucchini Medium, chopped • beans (black, white or red) 8 oz, cooked/canned • kale Bunch, leaves only, chopped • fresh basil* Bunch, chopped • fresh parsley Bunch, chopped The veggies here are seasonal and appropriate for a warming cleanse; you could also use Brussel sprouts, chard, and/or leek. In spring/summer, switch it up with more cooling asparagus, peas, and/or broccoli.

Ingredients

  • Flora Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Medium yellow onion
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken or a rotisserie chicken
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 (14 oz) jar crushed or diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • Veggies (see below)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Pesto or Clean green super sauce, to taste
  • Italian herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, sage), to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté the onion in olive oil about 1 minute on medium heat. Add the chicken and garlic. If chicken is raw, cook 6-7 minutes on medium-high.
  2. Add non-leafy veggies one at a time, from hardest to softest, sautéing for 1 minute in between each addition. Add tomatoes, stock, and any dry herbs, then reduce to medium-low for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Blend half the beans with some pesto and water and add to the pot with the remaining beans. Adjust with additional water if needed. Simmer 5 minutes more.
  4. Stir in leafy greens and fresh herbs. Taste (watch your tongue!) and season with salt and pepper. When kale is still bright, but wilted, remove from heat. Serve with more pesto and optional flax bread.

Flax Bread

Ingredients

  • 125 ml / 4.25 oz comfortably warm water – 105-110°F
  • 2 teaspoons syrup of choice (brown rice/maple)
  • 1 package / 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 200 g / 7 oz Flora Flax - ground fine for a fine crumb sandwich bread, or coarse for focaccia-style
  • 28 g / 1 oz Flora Organic Psyllium Husks
  • 14 g / ½ oz whey protein powder
  • 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
  • Pinch ground ginger (optional)
  • 2 eggs at room temperature, separated
  • 2 egg whites at room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 60 g / ½ cup olive oil, pumpkin oil, or sacha inchi oil, or butter
  • 57 g / 2oz sour cream or coconut cream

Instructions

  1. Gather ingredients. Make sure that everything is at room temperature.
  2. Line a loaf pan (8.5” x 4.5”) with parchment paper. Set aside.
  3. Mix your powders in a medium bowl. Add ground flaxseed, psyllium, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cream of tartar and ginger and whisk until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
  4. Put water in a large bowl. Check temperature and stir in syrup. Add yeast. Cover bowl.
  5. Mix together the egg yolks, vinegar and oil. Mix egg whites in a separate bowl with an electric mixer for a couple minutes until frothy, then fold in to wet ingredients.
  6. Once your yeast has bubbled, add the egg ingredients to the yeast. Add in half the powders, mix, then the cream, and mix again, and finally the other half of the dry mixture, until everything is combined.
  7. Transfer dough to pan. Place in a warm draft-free space (not the oven) and cover with a kitchen towel. Wait one hour or until dough rises over the rim*. This depends on the altitude, temperature and humidity - so peek at it every 15 minutes or so. *(If you use a large loaf pan it won't rise past the rim.)
  8. While the dough is proofing preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. At high altitude, bake at 375°F/190°C.
  9. Place the loaf pan gently into the oven. Bake for 45-55 minutes until it browns.
  10. Rest the bread in the loaf pan for 5 minutes, then tip onto a cooling rack.
  11. Cool completely for best texture.

 

Dana Green Remedios, RHN, RNCP, is a Vancouver-based educator and coach. She is a regular contributor to the FloraHealthy blog and can answer your questions in English, French, and Spanish as a Product Information Specialist at Flora.

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