Vegetable soup : The “secret weapon” against hunger, stress and bad mood.
And of course this is especially true on rainy and gray autumn days (as we are facing again right now…). Because then we long for food that not only tastes good, but also warms us from the inside and simply gives us a good, cozy feeling. “Soulfood”, which is good for body and soul alike…and which is also a real “stress killer”!
A vegetable soup is ideal because it tastes good and is nutritious and healthy at the same time. The vitamins contained in the vegetables provide the longed-for “freshness kick” and the carbohydrates provided by potatoes, rice or pasta (all popular ingredients in a rich vegetable stew for cold days) make you feel full for a long time.
Vegetable soup is also a great stress reliever, because just preparing it and whittling it down can be meditative and calming.
Ingredients:
(just a suggestion, because here are your imagination almost no limits!)
- carrots
- celery
- leeks
- onions
- potatoes
- broth (freshly cooked or as a convenient instant product)
- fresh herbs (e.g. parsley, chives or basil)
- some (olive) oil
- various spices (salt, pepper,…)
- maybe also: white wine, tomatoes, fresh parmesan…
The vegetables are first cut into “bite-sized” pieces. Then sauté everything in 1-2 tablespoons of (olive) oil so that it becomes translucent or lightly browned. The taste is enhanced if you add some sugar at this point and let the whole thing caramelize slightly (be careful – it will be very hot!) and then deglaze it with a good sip of white wine. Once this is done, you can add the broth and let everything “simmer” for at least 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, you can relax and practice “stress reduction” :-). Then you just have to taste the soup and can – just as you like it – add fresh herbs, some (cooked) pasta or some tomato pieces (which should not cook for long, because otherwise they would be totally mushy). A little Parmesan cheese and a few drops of good olive oil round off the vegetable soup – which warms body and soul and is a real “stress killer” – then finally perfect.
