You can easily keep healthy by adding more soups to your diet!
Most of us want to keep healthy during flu season since it can be such a hassle to deal with a cold. Still, not everyone knows that you achieve this through diet too!
A lot of people end up taking more vitamins. While all of us should get the flu vaccine in order to be safe, you can also add a couple more soups to your diet in order to keep healthy!
And while everyone knows the quintessential chicken noodle soup, there are many more alternatives out there that are going to help keep the flu away or get you back on your feet faster if you happen to get the flu.
We’ve compiled some of the easiest-to-make soups that will make you feel excited for them even when you’re sick. Sure, we are all loyal to the chicken noodle soup, but there is nothing wrong with spicing things up from time to time!
If you’re ready to give your immune system a boost with these soup options and try a new recipe, we’ve got you covered! Keep on reading to discover our favorites!
What are your favorite soups to eat during the flu or cold season? Are you bored of chicken soup? Share your answers in the comments!
Chicken and tortellini soup
While it may not seem that much different from the normal chicken noodle soup, the chicken and tortellini one is definitely a step above in flavor and depth.
It may seem weird to us, but it is an Italian classic and a great way to add more healthy and healing properties to a normal chicken noodle soup.
This one has the addition of tortellini, which can be beneficial to fighting off the flu or cold you may be experiencing.
All of us have our favorite flavors of tortellini, but the ones that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends when you make this soup to strengthen your immune system or to fight off an unexpected cold are the spinach or the cheese-stuffed ones.
The ones with cheese have an added layer of protein and fat, which will nourish your body, while the spinach ones have important nutrients like zinc and vitamin C, which are immunity-enhancing!
The best thing about this soup is that it can be done in as little as 30 minutes, including all the prep time, and you do not have to worry too much if the flu does get you!
Ingredients
- half a tablespoon of olive oil
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- half a cup of diced celery
- half a cup of diced onion
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces of fresh/frozen tortellini
- 1 and a half cups of shredded rotisserie chicken
- a quarter teaspoon of salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Make sure that you peel all your ingredients and then dice and chop all the veggies you need. The easiest way to make this is with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, so you do not have to worry too much about cooking the meat as well.
In a stock pot, heat up the olive oil over medium heat and then some of the celery, onion, and carrots for about 10 minutes. They should be tender but not yet browned.
Add the chicken broth and tortellini to this mixture. Let the soup reach a boil and cook the tortellini until they are tender. Follow the package instructions, but for most fresh varieties it should be around 3 minutes.
Once the tortellini is cooked well, stir in your shredded chicken and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Let it cook a couple more minutes until everything is warmed through and all the flavors get to know each other, then serve garnished with fresh parsley!
Thai red curry noodle soup
When your sinuses are clogged, some spice may just be what the doctor ordered. This curry noodle soup is part of the soups that those needing a change must try.
The Thai flavors are deep and delicious, with red pepper and the red curry paste containing zippy capsaicin, which has been proven to break up mucus.
This spicy soup is going to help those who are looking to strengthen their immune system while also helping those who have been hit by the seasonal flu clear their airways.
Sure, you need to be accustomed to the heat when cooking this soup, because otherwise you can end up in some trouble if you are not used to spice at all.
Otherwise, there are health benefits to eating spicy soups when you are sick since it can kickstart your immune system, help you sweat, and clear your sinuses.
Studies made in 2015 have shown that capsaicin (the spice component in chilies) can help in treating stuffy noses (which are known professionally as non-allergic rhinitis).
However, the study was made by inhaling capsaicin, not eating it, so we cannot know if the results are exactly the same. One thing is for sure: this soup will cure a stuffed nose!
What is great about this soup is that it is delicious and rich, and as long as you have all the ingredients, it is not going to take you ages to make. You can also adjust the spice level by choosing your own curry paste so that it won’t bother you too much.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of rice noodles
- 1 sweet potato
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (leftover roast or rotisserie chicken works great too)
- 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth
- one 15-ounce can of light coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons of red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of lime juice
- 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
Choose your favorite rice noodles according to the package instructions, and then rinse and set aside. While these are cooking, peel and dice your sweet potato into 1-inch cubes, then prepare all your other ingredients, chopping the onion and making sure your chicken is shredded.
In a medium-stock pot, heat your olive oil on medium to high heat. Then add your potato and onion and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are crisp and tender.
Add the chicken broth and coconut milk, dissolve the curry paste in the soup, and then add your fish sauce.
Let the soup simmer until the sweet potato is soft, which can take around 8 to 10 minutes.
Add the chicken, cooked noodles, and lime juice, then leave to simmer until everything is heated through and the flavors get to merge together.
You can garnish the soup with fresh basil and serve.
Pro tips! You can substitute the chicken for steak cubes and cook these before adding the potato and onion for a beefy soup. You can also customize this soup by adding other vegetables you may like.
Roasted cauliflower soup
While vitamin C is not the end-all-be-all cure to a cold or the flu, it is an important nutrient that makes up your immunity, and according to a 2022 study, you should strive to add more to your diet during the flu season.
A great way to add this nutrient to your diet is to make the switch to a roasted cauliflower soup or add it to your soup rotation.
Citrus fruits are the ones commonly known and celebrated for their vitamin C apport, but when it comes to veggies, cauliflower is a great contender.
Studies have shown that it contains 58% of the recommended daily value by the USDA!
Creamy, easy to make, and delicious, this roasted cauliflower soup is bound to keep you warm, make you feel cozy, and fight any viruses coming your way!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 and a half cup milk
- 2 pounds of cauliflower, cut in florets or from the frozen section
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 quarter cup of flour
- 1 quarter teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F, and while you wait, mix in a small bowl the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and garlic powder.
Then toss the cauliflower florets with the olive oil and spice mixture. Spread the florets on a large sheet pan and then roast them for about 25-30 minutes, stirring them halfway through the cooking time.
Once out of the oven, set aside a couple of small pieces for garnish, then roughly mash the rest with a potato masher. Set aside.
Over medium heat, melt the butter in a stock pot. Then, cook the chopped onion until it reaches a golden brown color, for around 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the flour over the butter onion mixture and stir until coated, then slowly add in the chicken stock and milk, stirring until the flower is fully dissolved.
Bring the soup to a boil, stirring as it thickens to your desired consistency, then reduce heat to low and add in the semi-mashed florets.
Stir to combine and then serve garnished with the pieces you save, some dried parsley, and croutons if you’d like.
Pro tip! If you want to get more of the cauliflower flavor, you can blend the soup at the end in order to make it a cream one.
There are other soup options that can keep a cold away that you will want to keep in mind during any season, aside from the ones that we mentioned now. If you want more options (including the best chicken noodle soup recipe), make sure you check out this article: 5 Delicious Soup Recipes That Will Get You Back on Your Feet in No Time.
