Nourishing Chicken Soup for Fertility Health
Who doesn’t love a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup? I know most people only think of chicken noodle soup when they are sick but this recipe is a fantastic support for general hormone balance, fertility health, and postpartum recovery. This is all thanks to several of the nourishing ingredients and preparation methods used for this soup.
WHOLE CHICKEN
I love to use a whole chicken whenever I can because cooking meat on the bone results in a better tasting and better for you protein. Why? When you cook meat on the bone it allows all the good nutrients like collagen and minerals that are contained in the skin, bones, and joints to cook into your meat. During pregnancy and postpartum, your needs for both collagen protein and minerals increase meaning your intake of these nutrients should also increase. This is an easy way to boost nutrients in your food. This is also one of the most affordable ways to purchase high quality pasture raised, organic chicken. To save you even more money, save the bones and make your own bone broth which leads me to my next point…
BONE BROTH
You can’t have a nourishing soup with out bone broth in my opinion. This is the base of any good soup, stew or sauce. Not only does it provide a rich flavor, it provides more nutrients and collagen than a standard stock or broth does. Because this is such an easy swap to make, I always use bone broth in my recipes as opposed to a stock. Bone broth offers gut healing collagen to repair mucosal membranes as well as trace minerals to support proper hydration of your cells. Here is my homemade recipe or you can get 20% off your order with Kettle and Fire when you use code restored_nutrition.
BREWER’S YEAST
Now this ingredient may seem a bit random. Brewer’s yeast is commonly seen in recipes like lactation cookies or smoothies for breastfeeding moms. Brewer’s Yeast can help to replenish specific nutrients that are required by nursing mothers including a variety of minerals, B vitamins, amino acids, and chromium. However, many of these nutrients are also required to support overall fertility, balanced hormones, and healthy adrenal function. That is why I love to use Brewer’s Yeast as a little nutrient booster in this soup!
COOKED VEGGIES
Last but not least I am a big fan of consuming cooked veggies over raw veggies as a way to support digestive health. If you struggle with things like gas or bloating post meals, your veggies may be a bit too hard for your digestive system to handle. Consuming cooked veggies are a great way to still consume them and get the good nutrients with a lesser impact on your gut health.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
INGREDIENTS
1 whole organic chicken (about 3 lbs)
2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee
1 yellow onion, diced
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
4 cups bone broth (Homemade or Kettle & Fire*)
4 cups water
2-4 scoops non fortified brewer’s yeast
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2-1 tsp salt
1 cup dried organic pasta noodle of choice
Fresh parsley to serve
DIRECTIONS
First, cook the chicken. You can either roast your chicken in the oven at 375 F for 75 - 90 minutes for a 3-4 lb chicken or you can cook in the pressure cooker for 22-24 minutes. I love making mine in my Instant Pot! This is great to do ahead of time to cut down on the prep time of this soup. Once the chicken is cooked, allow it to cool before shredding it as it will be very warm. Set aside (or store until you are ready to make your soup).
Heat ghee in a stock pot over medium high. Cook the onions for 3-4 minutes or until they are translucent. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute making sure that it does not burn. Stir in the carrots and celery and cook them for 2-3 minutes or until they are just beginning to soften.
Pour in the bone broth and water. Stir in the brewer’s yeast and all seasonings. You can taste the broth to adjust seasonings if needed. Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil.
Pour in the pasta and cook until it is done which will take about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta. Stir in 4 cups of the shredded chicken (use any leftovers for other recipes throughout your week!)
Serve with fresh parsley or a little parmesan cheese and a side of sourdough bread.
Enjoy!
NOTES:
Get 20% off your order with Kettle and Fire when you use code restored_nutrition