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Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup

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This fresh vegetable minestrone soup is packed with fresh veggies and herbs — it is truly amazingly delicious and healing. It’s like a hug in a bowl… Food really is the best medicine!
fresh vegetable minestrone soup

We are not vegetarians here in my house. I lean that way, but the rest of my family does not. So, oftentimes when I make a vegan or a vegetarian dish, some people — who shall remain nameless — don’t feel like they’ve had a “real” meal. They feel gypped. I, of course, think this is ridiculous, but sometimes it’s just not worth the fight or even an explanation.

And then sometimes I can make a vegetarian dish that’s so hearty, nobody thinks twice about it. That’s this Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup. It’s so jam-packed with so many things, nobody will miss the meat.

Vegetable-forward soups are my favorite kind of soups. Don’t get me wrong, I love a meatball soup and my Cheeseburger Soup is a huge favorite in my house.  BUT, they are not my beloved fresh veggie soups.

Some people like creamy, smooth soups. Some people like hearty, chunky soups. I love them all. This Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup is of the hearty, chunky variety and it is awesome. It’s a great clean-out-the-fridge soup because really, almost anything you’ve got will taste great in this recipe.

I like to add lots of immune-boosting ingredients to my soups and this one is no exception.  Oregano, scallions, and garlic are present in this recipe. Each one of these ingredients packs a big immune-boosting punch and together they are exceedingly powerful, making it perfect for the cold damp months of winter here in New York. And, because I’m not concerned with keeping this soup completely vegetarian, I like to use bone broth for the base of it — extra healing power!

One of the things I teach my clients is that’s it much easier to stay on track with whatever healthy eating/lifestyle plan you are on, if you always keep a big pot of soup in your fridge. I love to make one soup each week and then I can have something healthy and delicious to eat when I come home ravenous. This soup serves this purpose really well because it makes for great leftovers — I’ve even eaten it cold straight from the fridge. Others in my house will heat it up with some Parmesan cheese on top or with a piece of crusty bread hidden at the bottom of the bowl. Have it your way…

If you are a vegetarian soup fan, you will also love my recipes for White Bean And Kale Soup, Slow Cooker Vegan Split Pea Soup, and Paleo Carrot Soup.

boost your immune system

For more great ways to boost your immune system, download my free ebook: How To Be Healthy When Everyone Else Is Sick.

And, if you want to switch up your minestrone game, take a look at all of the minestrone recipes on Feed Feed — they look awesome!

 

fresh vegetable minestrone soup

Here are some of the amazing healing ingredients in this Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup:

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Zucchini cools your body off and makes you feel better during those hot days of summer. It helps your body release excess heat and it will make your mind feel more calm.

Oregano is a powerful antioxidant and it is great at fighting bacteria. It’s also known as an herb that brings joy and happiness to people. I even just bought a bottle of oregano essential oil and I put a drop in our smoothies a few weeks ago when Steve had a cold… it’s powerful stuff!

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Broccoli has a lot of potassium and is great for brain function; it also has magnesium and calcium to help regulate blood pressure. It’s also good to clear your body of excess heat and it actually can help your vision too. I love foods that make you feel better mentally as well as physically, and broccoli is one of those foods — it can lessen feelings of irritability.

It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.

Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus.  You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. It’s sold in boxes just like chicken or vegetable broth. The glucosamine in bone broth can reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.

fresh vegetable minestrone soup

Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup
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Recipe type: dairy free, gluten free, grain free, nut free, vegetarian option, vegan option
Cuisine: soup
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This Fresh Vegetable Minestrone Soup is simple, delicious, and healing. It will boost your immune system and keep you healthy!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 leek, cleaned well and sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 scallions, sliced (make sure to put the roots into the soup too -- they are a Chinese herb that will help keep colds away)
  • 1 cup tiny potatoes, scrubbed
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 1 med zucchini, quartered lengthwise, then sliced
  • 1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tsp chopped fresh oregano
  • ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp toasted onion powder (or substitute any onion powder)
  • 1 qt bone broth or vegetable broth
  • 1-1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1-1/2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1-1/2 cups broccoli florets, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup small-shape grain-free pasta (or pasta of choice)
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large soup pot over med heat.
  2. Add garlic, leek, bay leaf, and scallions (with roots). Saute, stirring, 5 min.
  3. Add potatoes and carrots. Cook, stirring, 3 min.
  4. Add zucchini, cook, stirring, 2 min.
  5. Add tomatoes, oregano, parsley, onion powder, broth, and vinegar. Let simmer about 10 mins or until the potatoes are just cooked through.
  6. Bring to a boil and add the pasta, broccoli, and spinach. Reduce heat and let simmer until the pasta is al dente, about 5- to 10-min.

fresh vegetable minestrone soup

Flat Beans And Potatoes

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flat beans and potatoes

I love going to the farmers’ market. I’d rather do that that almost anything else. There’s just something about all of the smells and colors and people, especially during autumn that makes me happy… it feels like home. Last weekend, when I was walking through all of the beautiful stalls filled with vegetables, the vendor with the beans caught my eye. There were just so many different types and colors, so I had to buy some. It was a hard choice, but I chose the most beautiful, huge, flat beans I had ever seen. I didn’t know at the time, that they would become the root of this deliciously homey pot of flat beans and potatoes.

So, I put some in my canvass bag, skipped merrily on my way, and tried to think about what else I would need to make these beans delicious.

This was on Sunday. Earlier that morning, I had just flown in on the red-eye flight from Oregon where I was visiting my brother. Let me tell you — the farmer’s market in Portland blows all other markets out of the water… but that’s another story. But, when I saw the beans, I did text my brother to tell him how beautiful they are (maybe even as pretty as the ones at his market), and he’s the one who suggested that I the flat beans and potatoes this way. So, thanks David!

These flat beans and potatoes are so comforting, a bit creamy, and totally fresh tasting. I put mine over a bowl of buckwheat groats and it was the perfect vegetarian meal.

For another simple green bean recipe, make my simple Sesame Green Beans.

flat beans and potatoes

flat beans and potatoes

This simple recipe for flat beans and potatoes has great healing ingredients:

Flat Beans have a good amount of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B, and iron. They can help detoxify your body, regulate metabolism, and lessen bloating.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.

flat beans and potatoes

Flat Beans And Potatoes
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Recipe type: paleo, whole30, vegetarian, vegan, side dish
Cuisine: vegetables
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This is such a comforting and simple side dish. Serve it over a bowl of steaming buckwheat groats, and you've got yourself a truly satisfying vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
  • 1 lb flat beans, any hard stems trimmed
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 4 to 6 new potatoes, cut into chunks
  • ½ cup fresh parsley
  • 7 garlic cloves, smashed
  • grass-fed butter or ghee or extra virgin olive oil, for finishing the dish
  • cooked buckwheat groats, for serving (optional)
Instructions
  1. Place the beans and potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water.
  2. Add a handful of sea salt.
  3. Stir in the parsley and garlic.
  4. Bring pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let cook, uncovered, 20 minutes.
  5. Drain most of the water out, leaving about 1 cup in the pot with the veggies.
  6. Stir a little bit of butter, ghee, or olive oil into the finished dish.
  7. Season with sea salt and black pepper, to taste.
  8. Spoon the mixture over cooked buckwheat, pasta, rice, or whatever makes you smile.
  9. Enjoy!

flat beans and potatoes

Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Pesto

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crispy smashed potatoes with pesto

I am always testing new recipes and playing with different preparations of foods. I love to create new dishes — this experimenting has always been what de-stresses me. There’s just something about the kitchen itself and the fresh ingredients and all of the possibilities that puts me in my happy place.

While this sounds good to many people, it makes my family crazy. Even if they love a dish, they rarely see it again the same way because I’m always tweaking and changing and experimenting.

But, this recipe for crispy smashed potatoes with pesto is different. I make it the same way every time. Because it’s awesome. And, it it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…

There’s no better side dish than these potatoes. They are the perfect compliment to chicken or fish or steak. But honestly, I love them best served alongside a great bowl of soup. And, last week we even ate them with some grain-free pasta. And yes, I know pasta and potatoes at the same meal doesn’t sound right. But I guess I figured since the pasta was made out of almonds and almonds are a protein…

The last time I made this dish, I stored the leftovers in a container that somehow got hidden in the way back of the fridge. So, a few days later when I found the container, I had to figure out what to do with them. One of my go-to ways to refurbish leftovers is to cook them with eggs for an awesome breakfast. These crispy smashed potatoes with pesto made the most delicious base for some over-easy eggs… yum… I couldn’t have planned it any better!

If you want to try another great side dish recipe, try my Kale With Tomatoes And White Beans.

crispy smashed potatoes with pesto

crispy smashed potatoes with pesto

This recipe for crispy smashed potatoes with pesto only has a few ingredients, but they are healing ones:

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Sunflower seeds help lower blood pressure and can relieve headaches and dizziness. In Eastern medicine we recommend eating sunflower seeds if a person is troubled by certain severe intestinal symptoms like dysentery, or intestinal worms or certain parasites. These seeds also contain calcium and magnesium and have anti-aging properties. In Chinese medicine they are often prescribed to get rid of rashes.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, iron, zinc, and selenium to your diet. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein and also contains fiber, so it’s a really good thing!

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

crispy smashed potatoes with pesto

Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Pesto
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Recipe type: side dish, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, potatoes, vegetables
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Minimalist Baker
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This is the perfect side dish. It's easy, healthy, delicious, and it goes with everything. The pesto is garlicky and tangy and OMG it's so good!
Ingredients
  • About 20 mini fingerling potatoes, washed
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt
  • For pesto:
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves
  • 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
  • ¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 2 Tbs nutritional yeast
  • juice of 2 small lemons
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
  2. Place the potatoes in a medium pot.
  3. Fill the pot with enough cold water to cover the potatoes.
  4. Add a handful of sea salt to the water.
  5. Boil the potatoes until a fork stick easily into them (about 15 to 20 minutes).
  6. Drain the potatoes.
  7. Using a potatoes masher or the bottom of a skillet, smash the potatoes until they are flattened a bit.
  8. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  9. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
  10. Bake in the oven until crispy (about 20 minutes).
  11. Meanwhile, make the pesto by putting all of the pesto ingredients into a food processor and processing until almost smooth.
  12. Feel free to thin out the pesto a bit with some additional extra virgin olive oil if it seems too thick.
  13. When the potatoes are crispy, remove them from the oven, arrange on a platter and top with pesto.
  14. Enjoy!

crispy smashed potatoes with pesto

4 Ingredient Vegan Potato Salad

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Potatoes can actually be great for your digestion…

4 ingredient vegan potato salad

I have a fickle relationship with potatoes. Sometimes I love them and sometimes I hate them. Well, really, I always love the taste of them, but I don’t always love the way my body reacts to them. That being said, when I use really good quality organic potatoes, I’m usually a happy camper. And, in my book, there is nothing better than a good potato salad as a side dish. For everything. And this 4 ingredient vegan potato salad is the easiest side dish ever. And just to sweeten the pot — it stays delicious for many days in the fridge…

My favorite food of all times is french fries smothered in brown gravy. Yes, I really said that out loud. I don’t know why, but it feels kind of cathartic to release that info…

So, when I say sometimes I’m afraid potatoes won’t agree with me, maybe that has something to do with it… hmmmm…

“What makes this potato salad vegan”, you ask? It’s made with an aquafaba-based mayonnaise. Aquafaba is a creamy blend of chickpeas and kombu and it’s awesome (way better than it sounds)! You can buy aquafaba based jars of mayo now in some markets. This condiment is truly the work of a genius.

When I made this 4 ingredient vegan potato salad last week, I served it several times. To several different people. Not even one of them knew it wasn’t made with a full-fat creamy regular mayonnaise. Even better, nobody could tell that I was serving 3-day-old potato salad. I know, it makes you a little scared of receiving a dinner invitation from me, doesn’t it?

Anyway, this recipe couldn’t be easier. It almost seems silly to post the recipe. But, I will.

And, if you are looking for another great easy potato recipe, try my recipe for Crispy Spicy Roasted Potatoes.

4 ingredient vegan potato salad

Here are the great ingredients in these every-so-simple 4 ingredient potato salad:

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutritious sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. In the winter, I eat lots and lots of onions… I guess I should feel sorry for the people close to me! Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular… The mayonnaise I love for this recipe is made from aquafaba (chickpeas).

Dill is considered a chemoprotective in that it can help neutralize some carcinogens. It also helps fight bacteria in the body.

Sea salt contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, and iodine — all minerals that are necessary for a healthy body. Himalayan sea salt is good for your bones, sleep, libido, muscles, and heart. Be aware, sea salt is not the same thing as traditional table salt…

4 ingredient vegan potato salad

4 Ingredient Vegan Potato Salad
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Recipe type: potatoes, side dish, salad, simple
Cuisine: American, traditional
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This is the easiest, most delicious side dish ever! You need to make this... and it keeps well in the refrigerator for days!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 lb small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered or cut into 1-inch pieces if potatoes are large
  • ½ of a red onion, minced
  • 3- to 4- Tbs vegan mayonnaise (I used this one)
  • ½ tsp dried dill or 2 tsp fresh dill, minced
  • sea salt, to taste
Instructions
  1. Boil the potatoes just until they are tender; do not overcook them!
  2. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  3. In a large bowl, gently toss the potatoes with the onion, mayonnaise, dill, and salt.
  4. Serve alongside everything and enjoy!

4 ingredient vegan potato salad

Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup

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I bet you didn’t know that potatoes can relieve some inflammation in your joints are they are good for constipation…
paleo chicken pot pie soup

Everyone always assumes that I grew up in a foodie home. Ummmmmm… not so much. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of frozen food I ate as a child. I remember frozen chicken pot pies. The ones that were tiny little frozen rocks with a thick crust and a gummy filling. As a kid, I think I must have thought they were good. But as an adult, I can’t even imagine eating one now. But a good pot pie… well, that’s a great thing. Enter this amazing paleo chicken pot pie soup.

I found the original recipe for this soup on a great blog called My Heart Beets. It’s a great recipe. I changed it up just a bit to make it a little more healing for Steve, who has a really obnoxious cold and cough that just keeps hanging on. But Ashley did an awesome job with this genius recipe.

We were on vacation in Mexico last week and it was so warm and beautiful. When we came home all I wanted was anti-Mexican food. I never thought I could have too much guacamole and too many margaritas, but it happened. So, this paleo chicken pot pie soup was just perfect!

This soup is creamy (but there’s no dairy) and rich and garlicky and healing. It’s just so comforting. And, it’s nothing like those frozen brick-like pot pies from my childhood.

This recipe is also super easy because it’s made with a rotisserie chicken. So, no excuses… come on, you’ve got to try it…

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For another creamy and warm paleo dish, try my recipe for Creamy Lentil And Kale Stew.

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a soup with your name on it…  So CLICK HEREto be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

paleo chicken pot pie soup

The ingredients in this soup with heal you:

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

Celery actually helps stop bleeding — so if you or anyone you know has just had surgery, start adding celery to your dishes! Celery is also great to help lower blood pressure and it’s been known to help with insomnia.

paleo chicken pot pie soup

If you make this Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Print
Recipe type: paleo, comfort food, soup, stew, whole30
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: My Heart Beets
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This soup is like a creamy chicken pot pie... without the crust or the dairy. It's so comforting and satisfying. Oh, and it's easy to make too!
Ingredients
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, skinned and shredded (preferably organic)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 8 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 Tbs grass-fed butter or ghee
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 lb yellow potatoes (half of them peeled and roughly chopped; the other half cut into bite-size pieces)
  • 2 cups chicken broth (I used bone broth)
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried dill (use fresh if you have it)
Instructions
  1. Heat the butter in a large soup pot. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring, 3 minutes.
  2. Add the peeled, roughly chopped potatoes and the broth.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Simmer, covered, about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes and onions to a blender and set aside to cool slightly.
  6. Whiz them up until nice and creamy.
  7. Add the carrots and celery to the broth in the pot.
  8. Add the bite-sized potatoes.
  9. Add the contents of the blender.
  10. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  11. Add the chicken, scallions, and herbs and cook another 5 minutes.
  12. Ladle into bowls.
  13. Enjoy!

 

paleo chicken pot pie soup

Paleo Vegetable Kugel

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This paleo vegetable kugel is light and healthy!

paleo vegetable kugel

One of the first things my mother-in-law asked me to cook was a kugel for Passover. She wanted a real kugel, as she put it, not one of my healthy recipes. So, she gave me a recipe and asked me to follow it. I think that kugel had two sticks of butter in it and a bucket of matzo meal!

This year, I won’t be home for Passover.  A few months ago I had to postpone a trip because I had the flu and the only time my sister and I could reschedule for was Passover week.  So, I had to decide between the traditional family seder or a trip to Anguilla with my sister to celebrate our big birthdays… I picked the trip… so don’t judge me… I will, however, miss this paleo vegetable kugel!

Here is my healthy answer to kugel. It’s delicious and it’s made with tons of fresh veggies and a little bit of oil and tapioca flour. Steve and I ate it for dinner last week as I was testing out the recipe. It’s a kugel (even if not as traditional as my mother-in-law would like) but it’s healthy and it’s good enough to serve any time of year.

And the leftovers are awesome for breakfast. A few sunny-side-up eggs served on top of a plate of this kugel… oh my, it’s like an awesome breakfast hash…

If you are looking for a great Paleo dessert to serve, try my Paleo Lemon Cake recipe.

paleo vegetable kugel
paleo vegetable kugel

This is the healthiest kugel in the world:

Leeks are known as “grass from the sun”. They are especially beneficial when the whether is still warm but starting to turn cold, or still cold and starting to turn warm (Spring and Fall). They are great for the liver and at helping the body relieve itself of toxins. Leeks are also good at helping constipation; they help the body rid itself of toxins in the digestive tract.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness. In olden times, it was common in China to rub mashed sweet potatoes on poison insect bites to remove the toxins. I still haven’t tried this, but if need be, I will!

Zucchini cools your body off and makes you feel better during those hot days of summer. It helps your body release excess heat and it will make your mind feel more calm.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes with tapioca flour — it seems to crisp things up well and it works as a great thickener too.

paleo vegetable kugel

Paleo Vegetable Kugel
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Recipe type: Passover, paleo, vegetables, casserole, side dish
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: What Jew Wanna Eat
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 9
Here's a great healthy side dish that's traditionally served for Passover, but it's good enough for any time of the year!
Ingredients
  • 2 large leeks, slices and soaked in bowl of cold water to remove any dirt
  • 1 large baking potato, peeled, sliced very thinly, and then cut into tiny pieces
  • 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled, sliced very thinly, and then cut into tiny pieces
  • 2 unpeeled medium zucchini, finely diced
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ¾ cup tapioca flour (here's a good one)
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2-/2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil, divided, plus and extra 2-tsp to grease the pan
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat 1 Tbs oil in a large skillet.
  3. Add the leeks and some salt and sauté until they start to brown, about 15 minutes.
  4. Put all of the chopped vegetables into a large bowl. Add the sautéed leeks and the tapioca flour. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add the eggs and stir until combined well.
  6. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with 2 tsp of oil.
  7. Spread the vegetable mixture into the dish.
  8. Bake until the top starts to brown a bit, about 45 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes.
  10. Cut into pieces.
  11. NOTE: When I cut this when it was too warm, it was hard to keep some of the pieces in neat squares, so if you can, let it cool completely (even in the fridge) before you cut it. I will say, though, that it was just as delicious when I cut it hot even if it didn't look quite as pretty!

paleo vegetable kugel

Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

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This roasted salmon sheet pan dinner is delicious, healthy, and so easy!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

I think if I had to pick a cooking method that is my favorite way to cook, it would be roasting. Roasting is the most idiot-proof method of preparing food. When in doubt, roast it. You can roast meats, vegetables, fish, fruit… and if you season the food properly, it will almost always come out good.

A few days ago, my real estate agent told me she was showing my house around dinner time. What this meant to me was that the salmon in the fridge that was waiting to be cooked, would have to be cooked in the morning so as to avoid potential buyers thinking my house smelled bad. I’m not usually a big fan of cooking fish in advance, but I figured I’d try the sheet pan method, and to be honest, I was just hoping the food would be OK. I wasn’t expecting miracles, I was just hoping to avoid scrunched up noses of my visitors.

Miracles do happen. Even hours later (about 9 hours later), I took my cooked sheet-pan dinner out of the fridge where I had put it after I cooked it in the morning, and I covered it with foil, and reheated it in the oven… and OMG, it was awesome.

So, I will be bowing down to my old tarnished sheet-pans a lot more often! And not just for this roasted salmon sheet pan dinner… mark my words, there will be many others…

Sheet-pan dinners are deliciously easy time-savers. All you do is put your food on the pan, season it, and pop it in the oven. That’s it. Even non-cooks can make this recipe. And, let me tell you, when you take it out of the oven, you look all kinds of cool and funky if you serve the food right on the tray you roasted it on…  Maybe this is why I’m starting to see them pop up all over in my favorite food blogs.  This roasted salmon sheet pan dinner recipe was inspired by one of my all-time favorite food blogs:  Half Baked Harvest.

For another delicious simple fish recipe, take a look at my recipe for Lemon Pesto Fish Fillets.

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Other than the ease and the deliciousness (is that even a word?) of this sheet-pan dinner, here are some more reasons to make this:

Salmon is the perfect food to nourish the blood and the yin. It’s especially great for women because it raises fertility levels by promoting a healthy endometrial lining. Salmon is also great for anyone who is in need of additional iron. Be sure to buy wild salmon because the levels of mercury are lower than in farmed salmon. This beautiful fish also contains large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, making it a good food source to combat breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, asthma, depression and diabetes. Lately there’s also been a lot of evidence that salmon is great at reducing intestinal inflammation and that it’s also good for your joints and muscles.

Beets are SO good for you. I try to find ways to fit them into my meals as much as possible. Really… many times a week. Beets nourish blood and tonify the heart. Athletes are starting to drink beet juice as a form of endurance therapy. They are anti-carcinogenic, good for anemia, and relieve constipation. I also think it’s a great idea to eat them raw sometimes because their amazing goodness is even more pumped up this way — I’m still learning to like raw beets, and in part of my “training” to like them, I am starting to under-cook them sometimes now…

Spring is asparagus season. In Chinese medicine, we use asparagus to heal the body from within; it gets rid of excess heat in your body, is good for circulation, can remove plaque from the arteries, soothes constipation and is good for hypertension. Many years ago, doctors used to prescribe asparagus juice to reduce cholesterol. Women can especially benefit from this vegetable’s healing abilities: it helps with menopause and fertility. One of my favorite Chinese herbs is called Tian Men Dong and it’s a form of asparagus. It’s great if you have yin deficiency (like so many woman do…), it can help if you have a dry cough, hot flashes, constipation, or night sweats.

Scallions, if you know me, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Turmeric is actually a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. And, if you zest a lemon on top of your foods, you will notice a distinctly brighter taste!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Roasted Salmon Sheet-Pan Dinner
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Recipe type: seafood, fish, sheet-pan dinner
Cuisine: recipe inspired by: Half Baked Harvest
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Just put all of these awesome ingredients on your sheet-pan, season them up, and roast... and be amazed! And, to make things even better you can cook and serve in the same single pan!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 lb fingerling potatoes, washed
  • 4 beets, peeled and quartered
  • 1-1/2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt
  • 1-1/4 lb wild salmon fillet
  • 3 scallions, roots cut off
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 Tbs coconut sugar (here's a good one)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp turmeric (I use this one sometimes)
  • ¼ tsp hot paprika
  • 10 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • the zest of 1 large lemon
  • 2 additional tsp extra-virgin olive oil (to add to the herb/spice mixture)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F convection setting or 450°F regular bake setting.
  2. Spread the beets and potatoes out on a large sheet-pan lined with parchment paper.
  3. Drizzle 1-Tbs oil over and sprinkle with salt.
  4. Place the tray in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Add 2-tsp oil to the bowl and mix.
  6. Remove the tray from the oven and place the salmon in the center (move the beets and potatoes to the sides).
  7. Cover the salmon with the herbs and spices mixture.
  8. Arrange the asparagus in the spare space on the tray and drizzle them with the remaining 2-tsp oil and sprinkle with salt.
  9. Lay the scallions over the salmon.
  10. Place the tray back in the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked and the beets are tender enough for you. (Mine took 18-minutes.)
  11. Remove the tray from the oven and place it on a trivet or towel right on your table. Serve and enjoy!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Vegan Macaroni And Cheese

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Yes, you can have creamy mac and cheese and stay healthy… try this vegan macaroni and cheese… it’s so good!

vegan macaroni and cheese

I have been pretty much dairy-free for too many years to count. And, for the last several years I eat mostly grain-free too.
And, honestly, there’s not too much that I feel I’m missing. That is, except creamy pasta dishes.

When I serve something that looks like this vegan macaroni and cheese, anyone who knows me backs up and asks what it’s made of. I can’t say I blame them because I’ve tried to replicate dishes like this with some pretty strange ingredients.

I experiment with lots of creamy pasta recipes. I mean, I do this a lot. Because pasta is awesome. It’s always been my favorite food. It’s the food that I find to be the most comforting food around.

I don’t post most of my experiments because truthfully, a lot of grain-free, dairy-free pasta dishes that are supposed to taste creamy and pasta-like really aren’t that good. But when I find a good one, I get really excited. And this vegan macaroni and cheese recipe is really, really good.

The sauce is made with potatoes, carrots, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. I know it sounds a little odd, but the texture and look are just perfect. It’s so creamy and the nutritional yeast gives it a cheesy taste. My non-vegan husband ate big bowls of this.

The pasta is made from lentils. Just lentils. This is a great find (see the recipe below for details on this awesome grain-free pasta). The texture really is like traditional pasta… it’s my new favorite pasta.

If you like the feel of this dish, take a look at this recipe for another type of vegan cheesy pasta!

vegan macaroni and cheese

Here are some of the great ingredients in this dish:

Lentils help lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, are high in vitamin B and protein, and have hardly any fat. They are a good source of long-term energy and are very high in fiber. These tiny legumes also help with digestion and they are the perfect protein to eat in the summer because they actually clear the body of excess heat; long ago, cold lentil soup was prescribed for patients with heatstroke or fever.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Turmeric is a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, so it’s perfect here.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes.

vegan macaroni and cheese

Vegan Macaroni And Cheese
5.0 from 3 reviews
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Recipe type: pasta, casserole, comfort food
Cuisine: recipe adapted from:Vegan Yumminess
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This mac and cheese really is reminiscent of the creamy cheesy pasta I remember from my childhood. But this one is grain-free and dairy-free.
Ingredients
  • 12 oz cooked pasta (I used this brand of grain-free lentil pasta)
  • 1 med baking potato, peeled, diced
  • 1 large carrot, thickly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
  • 3 Tbs nutritional yeast (I like this kind)
  • ¼ cup coconut cream from the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk (I buy these in bulk)
Instructions
  1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
  2. Add the potatoes, carrots, and onion.
  3. Boil until the veggies are soft; mine took 13 minutes.
  4. Dip a measuring cup into the veggie cooking water, and save ½ of a cup of it, then drain the veggies.
  5. Place the cooked veggies in a blender with all of the remaining ingredients, except the pasta. Add the reserved cooking water.
  6. Blend until smooth and creamy (I used my Vitamix for this).
  7. Pour the sauce of the pasta and stir until well-combined.
  8. Enjoy!

vegan macaroni and cheese

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

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This vegetarian shepherd’s pie tastes even better than the traditional version!

vegetarian shepherd's pie

I go through different food phases all the time. Sometimes I’m in a vegan phase or a vegetarian phase or a pescatarian phase… that’s why when I’m asked to label how I eat I usually say I am a flexitarian. To me, this means I eat healthy, but I like to switch it up depending on how my body feels at a particular time or in a particular season.

Right now I’m in a vegetarian phase. I’ve been eating vegetarian, but without the cheese. It’s kind of in between vegan and vegetarian. So, I’ve been saying no to meat and fish, but yet to eggs and butter. And I feel good… I don’t know if this will be a long phase or a quickie, but I like it!

This vegetarian shepherd’s pie recipe is awesome. Instead of being filled with meat, it’s piled high with lentils, mushrooms, peas, and corn. And, it’s topped with real mashed potatoes. Yup, authentic, buttery, creamy, mashed potatoes (but without the cream)… so good…

I’ve seen (and made) several variation of shepherd’s pie recipes, including really meaty ones and some vegan ones. This is the first one that I’ve made that’s vegetarian. The healthy veggies are sautéed with great spices and they go so well with the buttery taters that it’s just awesome. If you are looking for a vegan version, one of my favorite blogs, Minimalist Baker has a great one that also uses lentils.

Truthfully, I think I probably stacked more mashed potatoes on top of this vegetarian shepherd’s pie than anyone in their right mind ever would, but I wouldn’t change a thing…

One of the ways I was able to rationalize using such a big layer of mashed potatoes was by boiling the potatoes in a pot with some great Chinese herbs. I added some raw Huang Qi and some Dang Shen (see below to learn more about why these herbs are so great) to my pot of boiling potatoes so the great medicinal properties of the herbs infused into my heap of potatoes — so, why not eat a lot of them…?

If you are looking for another great recipe using lentils, try my Lentil Vegetable Soup.

vegetarian shepherd's pie

There are a lot of reasons to make this recipe for vegetarian shepherd’s pie (other than as a vehicle for sky-high mashed potatoes):

Lentils help lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, are high in vitamin B and protein, and have hardly any fat. They are a good source of long-term energy and are very high in fiber. These tiny legumes also help with digestion and they are the perfect protein to eat in the summer because they actually clear the body of excess heat; long ago, cold lentil soup was prescribed for patients with heatstroke or fever.

I love mushrooms. In Chinese medicine, mushrooms ARE medicine. They are herbs. They are one of the most healing foods around. In China, mushrooms have been used for many years as part of a natural cancer treatment. They are one of the best immune-boosting foods around.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Green peas are good for the digestion, especially if you are feeling constipated. In the olden days, people used to drink pea juice with their meals to avoid indigestion.

Corn is one of the things I won’t buy unless I can find it organic; it’s a crop that’s just too heavily sprayed with chemicals and so much corn is GMO that I really like to be careful. I used fresh corn for this recipe but feel free to use frozen if that’s what’s available to you. Corn helps those who have hepatitis, heart disease, and hypertension. Cornsilk is also a Chinese herb (Yu Mi Xu). It’s often used to reduce edema,  and can reduce the symptoms of some painful urinary conditions.

Turmeric is also a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Huang Qi is like magic; it builds qi/gives you energy… you can really feel it working while you are eating. My family makes fun of my excitement for herbs, but they also are happy to reap the rewards when they eat my herb-infused foods, so think about trying out some herbs the next time you boil a pot of something…

I also added Dang Shen to the boiling water. To the novice, this herb looks like ordinary thick twigs. To me, these sticks are like gold. I added these herbs for energy; to raise my qi. If you are feeling fatigued, I highly recommend looking into some of these herbs.

vegetarian shepherd's pie

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
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Recipe type: casserole, comfort food
Cuisine: vegetarian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Here's a comfort food, healthy casserole that's also vegetarian. Heaps of mashed potatoes top lentils, mushrooms and vegetables... it's easy and delicious.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cup dried lentils, cooked until done, but not mushy
  • 8 medium/large yellow potatoes, unpeeled, cut into large chunks
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 3 Tbs grass-fed organic butter
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 med onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 portabella mushroom caps, cut into small dice
  • ½ cup green peas, cooked (I took the easy way out and bought them from a salad bar)
  • ½ cup organic corn, cooked (this came from the salad bar too)
  • leaves from 2 large thyme sprigs
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
  • ½ cup tomato sauce (homemade, jarred, or canned)
  • 2 sticks of raw Huang Qi (an optional Chinese herb)
  • 1 stick of raw Dang Shen (an optional Chinese herb)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Boil the potatoes along with any Chinese herbs you are using in a large pot of salted water. Cook until the potatoes are soft. Drain the potatoes and discard the herbs.
  3. Mash the hot potatoes together with the butter and salt and pepper to taste. You can do this by hand or with a food processor (I used the processor).
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil.
  5. Saute the onions, garlic, and mushrooms for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the veggies are softened.
  6. Add the cooked lentils, peas, corn, spices, and tomato sauce. Stir, cooking, for about 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Spoon the lentil mixture into a 9x9-inch baking pan. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top.
  8. Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the inside is hot and bubbly and the top starts to brown. If your casserole dish is overflowing (like mine was), you may want to put something under the dish to catch any oozing filling.
  9. Enjoy!

vegetarian shepherd's pie

Slow Cooker Corned Beef And Cabbage

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This slow cooker corned beef and cabbage is so good you’ll make it more than just on St. Patrick’s Day!

slow cooker corned beef and cabbage

I know St. Patrick’s Day comes every year, but this is the first time I’ve ever made corned beef and cabbage. For my virgin time I used an amazing recipe from Foodie Crush as a guide. So, a big thanks goes out to Heidi for creating this awesome recipe! This slow cooker corned beef and cabbage recipe is a keeper!

Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s so easy because the slow cooker does the work! I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve ever made this, because it really is so good.

So, here it is a few days before St. Patrick’s Day and I’m sitting in my kitchen drooling over the aroma in my apartment. Should I wait to serve this in a few days for the actual holiday? Should I just give up and dig in now? What’s a girl to do…

Okay, now 5 minutes has passed and I have scarfed down 4 slices of this melt-in-your-mouth meat. And 3 big hunks of rich potato. And a few carrots. Oh, and I dipped everything in the non-dairy horseradish sauce I made. Now, I can save the rest for the actual day…

If you are looking for another great meat recipe that cooks in the slow cooker, try my recipe for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork!

slow cooker corned beef and cabbage

And by the way, you can eat corned beef and cabbage and still be healthy:

Beef is good for a lot of ailments. It’s good for edema/swelling in the body, it helps many people with their weak back and knees and, believe it or not, it’s good for that bloated, distended feeling we sometimes get in our stomachs. In the olden days, beef was stewed for hours so that the liquid could be sipped to combat chronic diarrhea. I was able to find a pre-brined, nitrate-free corned beef brisket, so I felt really lucky!

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Cabbage can help control a cough and lessen the symptoms of the common cold — in olden times, cabbage tea was given to people who had contracted the whooping cough. It’s also good to combat constipation and hot flashes.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and
tonsillitis.

I added a great Chinese herb to my slow cooker, so that it could infuse it’s medicinal magic into the food. I used Bai Shao (White Peony Root). This herb nourishes the blood — it’s great for regulating your menstrual cycle, stopping abdominal pain, and can be good for some types of headaches.

slow cooker corned beef and cabbage

Slow Cooker Corned Beef And Cabbage
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Recipe type: Slow Cooker, Meat, Beef
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Foodie Crush
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
This slow cooker corned beef and cabbage is healthy, easy, and so festive!
Ingredients
  • 2-1/2 lb uncured, pickled beef brisket (if yours is not pickled already, sprinkle a bit of pickling spice on the top of the meat)
  • 12 baby carrots (or 4 regular carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces)
  • 4 medium yellow potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 yellow onion, quartered
  • 1 12-oz bottle of dark beer
  • 6-oz of light beer
  • 7 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 5 pieces raw Bai Shao (an optional Chinese herb that will not change the flavor of the dish; see above explanation of this herb's benefits)
  • ½ head green cabbage, cut into wedges
  • ½ cup full-fat coconut yogurt
  • 2 Tbs prepared white horseradish
Instructions
  1. Place the corned beef, carrots, potatoes, onion, beer, hyme sprigs and Chinese herbs if you are using them, in the slow cooker.
  2. Cook on high heat for 5 hours.
  3. Place the cabbage wedges on top.
  4. Cook an additional 1 hour.
  5. Let cool a bit and slice the meat against the grain.
  6. Make the sauce by mixing together the yogurt and the horseradish.
  7. Place the sliced meat and the vegetables on a platter. Drizzle some of the cooking liquid over.
  8. Serve the sauce on the side.

slow cooker corned beef and cabbage