Summer is the season to fill your plate or bowl with light, detoxifying raw foods. We think of making soup when the weather is cold. Still, this recipe is light and nourishing and combines fresh, detox-friendly green beauty foods, like spinach and peas. It's quick and easy to make and will serve 4 to 6.
With their anti-inflammatory properties, mushrooms are fantastic for our skin and an underappreciated food. They are rich in vitamin D and antioxidants, which help protect our skin against wrinkles and environmental damage.
I'm a fan of one-pot cooking - either a slow cooker (crock pot) or made on the stove; this delicious, nutritious soup is a time saver and a healthy option for supper or lunch.
INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp olive oil
Four shallots, chopped
10 oz [280 g] white button mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
4 oz [115 g] shiitake mushroom caps, clean and chopped
Two cloves garlic, minced
Two fresh thyme leaves
2 Litres of vegetable stock
170g Fusilli whole grain pasta
140g fresh or frozen peas
Two large handfuls of fresh organic spinach, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley
HERE'S HOW WE MADE IT
Pour olive oil into a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until they begin to soften. Add the mushrooms, garlic, and thyme and cook until the mushrooms are tender and reduced, 5 to 8 minutes. Pour in the stock and add the pasta when the vegetable stock begins to steam; reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice to prevent the pasta from sticking.
Stir in the peas and spinach and cook until the spinach wilts and the pasta is tender, about 5 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.
Great with wholegrain rye bread or toasted sourdough.
Like most mushrooms, white mushrooms are low in calories but pack plenty of nutrients.
One cup (96 grams) of whole white mushrooms provides:
Calories: 21
Carbs: 3 grams
Fibre: 1 gram
Protein: 3 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Vitamin D: 33% of the Daily Value (DV)
Selenium: 16% of the DV
Phosphorus: 12% of the DV
Folate: 4% of the DV
Thank you for checking in. To read our other well-being, nutrition and skincare posts, please visit our Live Well website: www.livewellnaturalskincare.co.uk