Lunch: Chicken and Spelt Soup with Greens

Recipe by Donna Hay This is one of my all-time favorite chicken soup recipes—it's packed with so many nutritious greens as well as wholesome spelt, with a touch of zesty lemon. It never fails to make you feel great from the inside out.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Broccoli, Kale, Lemon

Health and fertility benefits of Chicken and Spelt Soup with Greens

Broccoli is one of the non-starchy vegetables that has a very low glycemic index (GI), which is beneficial for reducing blood sugar levels. Broccoli is also a source of DIM (Diindolymethane). Diindolymethane is very effective in reducing the testosterone levels in the body, an action that would automatically curb male dominant features and regulate the estrogen levels in the system. Kale is an excellent source of calcium, which has an important role in egg maturation and follicle development in the ovaries. Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to.

Ingredients

1 (3 1/4-pound) chicken, rinsed and drained
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 yellow onion, skin on, quartered
1 leek, chopped
2 fresh bay leaves
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 liters water
1 cup spelt
2 stalks celery, trimmed and chopped, extra
10 1/2 ounces broccolini, florets trimmed and stalk chopped
Sea salt and cracked black pepper
3 1/2 ounces green beans, trimmed and chopped
1 3/4 ounces baby kale leaves (about 3/4 cup)
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
Baby lemon balm leaves, to serve

Instructions

Place the chicken, carrot, celery, onion, leek, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns and water in a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover with a lid and simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes.
Strain the soup, reserving the stock and the whole chicken. Return the stock to a clean pot over high heat, add the spelt and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. Shred the chicken, discarding the skin and bones.
Add the extra celery, broccolini, salt and pepper to the pot and cook for 4 minutes. Add the green beans and shredded chicken and cook for 2 minutes or until the beans are tender. Remove from the heat and stir in the kale leaves and lemon zest. Divide the soup among bowls, top with the lemon balm and sprinkle with cracked black pepper to serve.

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