Nourishing Chicken Noodle Soup

I present three options for this soup, traditional, vegan, and low-carb, all super quick, highly nutritious and very delicious!

Time is tight but with a few store-bought ready to go options you can have homemade chicken noodle soup with rich flavor ready in a minute. 

Chicken noodle soup is a traditional food for health in the winter.  This is not just a wives tale as the typical ingredients of chicken broth (rich in minerals), celery, carrots, onion (full of vitamin A, C and other antioxidants), chicken (packed with protein) and noodles (comfort food carbs) packs a nutritional punch. At the end of the day, the real relief comes from the broth itself!  

When we are ill, we are often become dehydrated and low in minerals due to sweating or or increased elimination paths, so a hearty bowl of this soup is a great way to replenish fluids and sodium. 



Ingredients

Start with:

• 1 small onion (yellow or Vidalia sweet)
• 1 C Carrot
• 1/2 C Celery
• Garlic (I use a lot, but use to your preference)
• Optional seasonings to taste: parsley, dill, oregano, chicken seasoning, etc. Start out really light, and taste, adjusting at the end of cooking. 
  

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add if Vegan​

• additional veggies of choice (mushroom, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.) 
• Optional 1 drained can of young jackfruit for a chicken texture
• 32 ounces of Imagine brand No-Chicken Broth, can also use better than bullion no-chicken or vegetarian base
  

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add if Low Carb:

• 1 rotisserie chicken, meat cleared from the bones and diced (save the skin and bones to simmer with veggie peelings and odds and ends for a delicious homemade chicken stock filled with minerals and collagen!)
• bulk up with cauliflower and hearty leafed veggies like frozen kale (it remains firmer but is much more palatable to a wider audience than fresh kale is but is still just as nutritious!)

add if traditional:

• egg noodles

Method

1. Sautee the onion and your other aromatic veggie like carrots, celery, peppers, and garlic before adding the liquid to the pot. Tip:  “Sweating” out these veggies beforehand ensures you'll get maximum flavor turning this quick dish into a family favorite that you would never quess took so little time!
   
2. Add in the other veggies that take less time cooking if using (mushrooms for instance) and sautee for an additional minute. 
   
3. Add in broth and either chicken or jack fruit and heat through
4. In the final few minutes add in your egg noodles if using, allowing enough time for them to cook through per directions on the bag. 
   
5. Taste and season based on preference with any of your favorite herbs or spice blends.  Start off slowly and taste often!  You can always add in more, but it is impossible to take any out!  

Enjoy!