Last April my roomies and I decided to do our own Easter dinner. The OCD-Control-Freak-Wanna-Be-Martha-Stewart in me was all about this obviously, thus prompting my fervent search through recipes on Pinterest for days to make sure I found the best, and healthiest, dishes possible.
One of my best finds was a Ginger Carrot Soup recipe. This was around the time where my ginger obsession was recently starting and in full force, so naturally I opted for this recipe. I can understand why some may find this soup to be off-putting by the main ingredients, but trust me, it is more delicious than I could have imagined. Let’s not forget the fact that it has some amazing health benefits – there is seriously NOTHING unhealthy about this soup.
The past few weeks I have made this soup multiple times (an embarrassing amount) because it is seriously that good.
Just to name a few benefits of the main ingredients:
One of my best finds was a Ginger Carrot Soup recipe. This was around the time where my ginger obsession was recently starting and in full force, so naturally I opted for this recipe. I can understand why some may find this soup to be off-putting by the main ingredients, but trust me, it is more delicious than I could have imagined. Let’s not forget the fact that it has some amazing health benefits – there is seriously NOTHING unhealthy about this soup.
The past few weeks I have made this soup multiple times (an embarrassing amount) because it is seriously that good.
Just to name a few benefits of the main ingredients:
GINGER: •Rich source of antioxidants: gingerols, shogaols, zingerones (just to name a few) •Anti-bacterial, Anti-viral, Antioxidant, and Anti-parasitic properties •Gastrointestinal relief (helps relieve nausea, dizziness, and vomiting) •Anti-Inflammatory: ginger contains very strong anti-inflammatory compounds, 'Gingerols'. This helps in aiding pain-relief in muscles and joints, as well as effectively reducing migraine discomfort. PS Ladies, it also has been found to be equally as efficient as ibuprofen in alleviating pain from menstrual cramps, BYE Midol. •The anti-inflammatory properties make it beneficial for many chronic inflammatory diseases including cancer - and has been found to specifically help protect against colorectal cancer and ovarian cancer •Immune Booster (helps in promoting healthy sweating - good during a cold or flu!) | CARROTS: •Great source of Pro-Vitamin A, Vitamins C, D, E, K, B1, and B6. •Rich in Biotin (great for hair and nails), Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Organic Sodium •Improves Vision - Beta-Carotene gets converted into Vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is then transformed in the retina. B-C also is shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. •Helps Prevent Cancer (studies show carrots reduce risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer due to falcanirol and falcarindiol - which have anti-cancer properties) •Slows Aging - The Beta-Carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage and slows down the aging of cells. •Great for Healthy Skin (due to the Vitamin A) •+ + + Prevents Heart Disease, Anti-Inflammatory, Regulates Blood Sugar, Boosts Immune System, Boosts Oral Health |
I mean… I can clearly go on and on. But I think you guys get the point – ginger and carrots are on-point when it comes to those health benefits.
I did alter the recipe a bit, but here it is:
To be honest, I rarely accurately measure out ingredients (unless I’m baking, in that case it is definitely important). I much prefer estimating and seeing how it goes.
Olive Oil 1 medium-sized onion 1 clove of garlic Ginger Carrots Vegetable Broth (bouillon cube) Black Pepper Cayenne Pepper Salt Plain Greek Yogurt Coconut Milk (optional) | DIRECTIONS: So, first things first, I peel and chop the onion. Next, I take a small piece of ginger, peel it, and then dice it into small pieces. After that, I peel the carrots and cut them into small slices. Then, I cover the bottom of a medium-sized pot with olive oil, add in the onions, ginger and garlic over medium heat, and let that sit until the onions become translucent. Once that is ready, I add in the carrots, then immediately fill up the pot with water, just enough so that it covers the carrots, and add in the bouillon cube and stir. I let the water come to a boil, then lower the heat and cover the pot for around 15-20 minutes (optional: add in coconut milk). Then, once that is ready, I transfer the soup from the pot into my blender and puree it until it is smooth. Finally, I add salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt. |
Funny side-note story about the first time I made this on Easter day >> Well, last April we still didn't have a proper blender (I now thankfully do). So, I was using a blender from circa the 1920s, and the best part was >> there was no lid anywhere in site. Naturally, I didn’t realize this until I was already way into the process of making this soup, so I searched for alternatives. My alternative lids ranged from: bowls (yep.), large cups (obviously that did not work), and finally, the lid for my teapot (winner…kind of). So, needless to say, it was a messy job and there was ginger, carrot soup all over my kitchen counter. Despite the struggle, it somehow still turned out well.
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!
sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72#healthbenefits
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/30/ginger-health-benefits.aspx
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-benefits-of-carrots.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/carrots.html
http://juicing-for-health.com/basic-nutrition/healing-vegetables/health-benefits-of-carrot.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-great-reasons-to-eat-more-onions.html
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!
sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72#healthbenefits
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/30/ginger-health-benefits.aspx
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-benefits-of-carrots.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/carrots.html
http://juicing-for-health.com/basic-nutrition/healing-vegetables/health-benefits-of-carrot.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-great-reasons-to-eat-more-onions.html