10/08/2021
“And now for something completely different”, as John Cleese would say;)
Soup broth
Well, nothing is completely different in TCM terms for everything is so intimately connected and yet… I’ve been talking about ‘diagnosis’ and today I jump to the soup broth;)
And these two are also connected, of course, for in TCM/Acupuncture diagnosis we would recommend different foods for different conditions. Some people will need a more Yang boost, others a more Yin one, etc., depending on their constitution and/or disbalances.
“One size fits all” is not a phrase in the TCM lexicon, though, yes, we also make use of some protocols.
My soup broth was made already on Saturday actually, but as I have just added it to my stew (and having taken a photo earlier, for I liked the colour so much;), I thought it would be a nice subject for today. Let’s use it then as a kind of protocol.
This big pan is my favourite for when I make soup broth, I put it in jars in the fridge so I can savour it for many days, and I also use it in the confection of other dishes (stews, rice, soups, etc.). Often, part of it will land in my daughter’s fridge, and rarely so, but sometimes, even in a friend’s fridge;).
So, what’s inside?
Normally the stalks of nearly any vegetables I find in the organic market. To walk in the market is already a pleasure;)
Fennel (stalks, fronds, and a piece of the bulb), carrots (also the ‘fronds’), stalks of cavolo nero (Tuscan kale), stalks of broccoli, cauliflower and chard, onion, one clove of garlic, parsley, a spoon or two of olive oil, one or two bay leaves, turmeric, fresh ginger, Himalayan or Celtic salt, one or two black peppercorns (not always), three or four red dates or some goji berries (both very good for the Kidney and Spleen organ systems).
After bringing it to a boil I simmer it for about 3 to 4 hours. In the end I strain it and, in another recipient, I press all the rests against the sieve so to get all that final precious juice.
It’s very healthy(!) to drink it in the morning instead of coffee or, before your coffee, but also between the meals. Warmed up, needless to say;). When drunk half an hour before the meals it will ‘warm up the Spleen’, i.e., it will make the digestive system ready to work at its best.
In TCM and some other Traditional Medicines, and kitchens (see the Mediterranean kitchen as well) it’s more common to make the soup broths with chicken or bones (like oxtail, for instance). They serve very good purposes, for those who eat meat do not hesitate. (Buy organic meat then, for all the reasons).
Without making too much of an issue out of food…
Eat nice, organic, moderate, a (mainly) cooked, varied diet.
Enjoy your meals!
