Immune Boosting Soup with a Southwest Flare, Easy and Fast
This article is for my easy, super fast one pot recipe for soup that boosts the immune system. Perfect for anytime, but especially when you’re feeling like you’re getting a cold or flu. Filled with fragrant and medicinal herbs and spices you probably already have, it’s delicious. Adjust the spices as you like. It will still help!
Mr. V. was saying he felt like a little cold was coming on the other day. We've gotten a LOT of rain, you see, and he is outside in it working hard. That’s just life on the homestead! You are going to spend some days in the rain.
Luckily, I have this easy immune-boosting soup recipe using simple ingredients including anti-inflammatory and healing herbs and spices. What's great about using common aromatic kitchen spices in soups to support the body is that they do double duty! They help keep you healthy, and they taste amazing!
Many culinary herbs not only taste great, but their medicinal properties can't be beat.
For this soup, I decided to use ground beef because that's what I had already taken out. You could also use chicken, venison, elk, or any other meat. Or, just leave out the meat if you’re vegetarian/vegan. Mr. V. loves Southwest flavor, so I combined those tastes with proven cold-fighting herbs.
This soup always turns out incredibly tasty, warming, nourishing, and soothing. He felt better the very next day. This is a happy, colorful soup that's great any time, too. You can also make it in one single pot, saving you time in the clean-up.
I make this soup often just because it's so danged good! It's also a healthy and inexpensive way to start feeling better if you feel a cold coming on. If you have children, it’s an excellent soup to provide them too.
Give this a try if you're feeling under the weather, if you want a Southwest vibe and a beautiful, colorful soup, or if it's dead of Winter and you're cold. It's really fast to make, too, which makes it even more attractive to busy folks like me.
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How to Make Soothing Southwest Immune-Boosting Soup
You are just going to love this one-pot Southwest soup for both its taste, how easy it is, and it will help you heal up quickly from a cold! You're welcome!
Ingredients for Immunity Southwest Beef Soup:
** 1 pound ground grass-fed beef (or any meat or meat alternative you enjoy)
I realize grass-fed beef is pricey, but it’s truly best for your family, if you eat beef. Find out more about the meat you buy and how to find less expensive healthy options. You can also substitute with tofu crumbles if you like, or chicken will also do nicely in this soup!
** 1 or 1/2 onion, sliced rather thinly
I did use a lot more onion than I normally use in soups because it was primarily for healing. Just add more or less to your own taste. But if you want to kick a cold in the pants, onion and garlic are super helpful. Here’s a recipe for onion-honey cough syrup you might want to try, too.
** 1 1/2 tbsp Turmeric Powder
This is a lot of turmeric powder. However, it is balanced well with the Cumin, and even got a thumbs up from my daughter visiting from college. It's a wonderful immune boosting herb.
NOTE: I buy most of my bulk herbs, especially the medicinal ones, from Starwest Botanicals. They have a huge selection of organic herbs and teas for both culinary and medicinal use.
** 2 tsp ground Black Pepper
If you want your Turmeric supplementation to absorb into your body quickly and easily, you need to add in plenty of Black Pepper. Plus, it helps you sweat, in case you are experiencing a dry fever.
** 1/2 tsp ground Cumin
I used Cumin for the delicious Southwest flavor, but it also has healing properties. A little goes a long way, so I limited it to 1/2 tsp. But, you could add more if you really like the flavor.
** 2 tbsp minced Garlic
That's a lot of garlic, and honestly, I could have added more. It went very well with the spices mentioned above and didn't overpower anything. Garlic is one of the BEST immune boosting herbs you can ingest if you aren't feeling well. It also helps kill worms and parasites. Just saying.
** 1 can diced Tomatoes OR 2 large fresh Tomatoes diced
I love using fresh tomatoes, and I actually used a combination of both canned and fresh in this recipe. I really try to go lightly on using canned commercial goods, unless they are in a BPA free can--hard to find. You can read about Foods You Think Are Healthy But are Really Killing You here.
** 32 ounces (1 box, or a quart) of low sodium organic Beef or Chicken Broth
I make our own beef, chicken, and vegetable broths, and I package them in quart or 2 quart amounts. You can find out how to make your own broth here, or buy organic broth. That's just fine, too.
** 1 can Hominy
I'm not crazy that it's canned, but Mr. V. loves hominy. I thought it would go well in this soup, and it sure did! You could substitute with frozen corn, gluten free rice noodles, even tortilla chips would be great!
** 2-3 Celery stalks, cut into small slices (optional)
I didn't actually have celery on hand in these photos, but if I had, I would have used them for their cooling and diuretic properties. Very detoxifying. Celery is also full of water, and this is super helpful for potential dehydration when you’re sick.
** 2-3 cups baby Spinach leaves
Adding greens that wilt to nothing like spinach is a great way to get greens into your family's food.
** 1 cup chopped Cilantro (optional)
Cilantro has an excellent Southwest Flavor. It's also very diuretic. Mr. V. happens to love the stuff, so I added quite a bit. You could leave it out all together or reduce it if you don't like it, though. It seems it's a love-hate flavor for people. Another option is to let people sprinkle it on their soup themselves to manage the flavor preference for this strong herb.
** Sea Salt (optional) to taste
Adding a hint of salt can help with electrolyte balance when you’re ill. Lots of water…a little salt.
** A pinch or two of cayenne pepper (also optional—cayenne is super helpful for supporting your body and clearing sinuses, BUT it can also be a little hot for some people, especially young children) Click here to read more about how cayenne can be a first-aid herb!
Just look at that gorgeous Cilantro!
Did you know? There are other herbs that you can toss into your soups and stews for extra health benefits too! Burdock root (Arctium lappa) is one of these! Find out more in the video below:
Directions for Making One-Pot Southwest Immune-Boosting Soup
Step 1) Brown the Ground Beef
In a large pan that is big enough for all your soup liquid, brown your ground beef. Go ahead and add the onions now, too, so that they have a chance to become translucent and add all that good flavor and medicinal goodness.
Cooking up the ground beef and onions---
Step 2) Add the Spices
Add all the spices & celery (not the Cilantro, which is mostly for a garnish on top at the end). Let this cook for about five minutes, stirring well.
Step 3) Add the Broth
Simmer the beef & spices in the broth for about 30 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more the broth will reduce, and that's fine if you don't want a lot of liquid.
Adding the spices---
Step 4) Add the Hominy & Spinach
When you are about 15 minutes out from eating your soup, go ahead and add the hominy & spinach. The spinach will wilt nicely, and the hominy will take on the color of the turmeric, becoming a lovely yellow color.
Isn't this Immune-Boosting Soup looking better and better?
Step 5) Serve and Enjoy!
If you are adding the cilantro, go ahead and add it on top of the soup. You could also add avocado if you like right now, too.
Here it is: Delicious One-Pot Immune-Boosting Southwest Soup! Enjoy!
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Thoughts on this Colorful, Southwest One-Pot Immune-Boosting Soup
That's a mouthful, right?
I'm not too great at coming up with names for my food concoctions, but I CAN tell you this soup is delicious and is filled with herbs and spices that will help you get over that little cold fast. It's so easy, too!
Do you have a favorite immune-boosting soup combination you like to make? We'd love to hear your favorites! Leave comments in the comments section for us!
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Have an awesome day and
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance,
Heidi
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. In no manner, stated or implied, is any statement in this article meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please seek medical advice from your doctor or medical professional if you have questions.
I just love a great-tasting, one-pot, immune-boosting soup any time of the year!
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