Autumn pick-me up Thai Chicken Soup
13 October 2014
This is quite literally the first time that I have ever made soup with meat in it. To me, soup is all about delicious, colourful vegetables brimming with nutrients. The only problem is that my usual soups have no protein in them. Why do I mention this? Well protein is quite literally the building block of growth and repair, so when expecting, you really need to ensure that your protein levels are tip top, so as to give you baby a great start. And postnatally? Well postnatally it’s all about healing you, keeping you strong and building you up so that you are fit and well when you are busy looking after (at least) two of you. If you have abdominal separation, for example, then getting enough protein is vital for the healing process. Likewise, post C-section or if you have had a tear.
So chicken soup it is! And this is a yummy one. If you really can’t face chicken then I’d suggest replacing with tofu, although I’m not a massive fan of that tasteless white stuff….
Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Thai red curry paste
- Grated ginger
- Crushed garlic
- A large bunch of roughly chopped coriander
- 2 sticks of lemon grass
- Juice of 1 lime
- Bouillon powder
- Mixed vegetables of choice such as baby sweet corn, sugar snaps, sliced runner beans, green beans. I even added bright lights chard in mine yesterday!
- Rice noodles
- Water
Step 1
Boil up a kettleful of water and once boiling put it into a large saucepan and let it simmer.
Step 2
Add bouillon powder and the chicken breasts to the water and cover to cook at a slow simmer. Once cooked you need to fish the chicken out (so as to speak!) and slice it into strips.
Step 3
In the meantime, steam your veg lightly so that it is still brightly-coloured and crunchy.
Step 4
Add the red curry paste, ginger, garlic and lemon grass along with the lime juice and simmer for a few minutes before putting the chicken strips back into the broth and adding the rice noodles to cook – they won’t take long.
Step 5
Serve piping hot in deep bowls topped with loads of veg and the chopped coriander.
Yummy, healthy, sustaining….