So what’s so super about this soup?
Well, firstly, it’s jam packed with allll the good stuff, green good stuff to be specific, hehe hence the name.
It’s made creamy with avocado, one of the most popular green foods but also includes a hefty dose of broccoli, one of the least loved green foods but one that’s so very good for us. Even I struggle to get as much broccoli as I’d like into my diet, partly because I hate the tough texture of it that always ends up stuck in my teeth, which is one reason why I like this soup so much, because it gets blended, removing this issue.
“Soup”er nutrition!
Broccoli has so many health promoting compounds in it but some of the main ones are called glucosinolates which then become isothiocyanates (another helpful compound) via an enzyme reaction. These compounds are responsible for heart health, boosting antioxidant effects, promoting the formation of enzymes involved in the livers detox pathways and may help reduce the incidence of cancer.
To get the benefits of these compounds it’s best to consume the cruciferous veg (cabbage, rocket, kale etc) uncooked to enable the enzyme reaction to occur, but this isn’t always possible or pleasant so if you want to maximise on your cooked cruciferous veg then pair them with some raw rocket, watercress, mustard or horseradish as these foods will mimic the enzymes needed for the reaction to occur. But don’t worry you still get some benefit from consuming cooked veg so don’t use it as an excuse not to eat them!
The avocado is packed full of monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and fibre which are helpful for the heart and vitamin E which is great for skin plus the good fats help you to absorb fat soluble vitamins.
The next super green in here is the humble pea, yes peas. They’re a great source of fibre, B vitamins and protein, finally, I included fresh basil to amp up the flavour and pair with the garlic and herbs in the veg stock.
All these foods are super nourishing and super accessible as well as affordable, no excuse not to make this soup in order to squeeze in more veg at the end of your day, especially if you’re other meals haven’t been as stellar.
I also give a few optional additions in the recipe below in order to help you boost its goodness but they’re completely optional, it’ll still be one of the healthiest soups out there!
Creamy super greens soup (serves 2)
-125g peas (1 cup)
-2/3 head broccoli (200g)
-1/2 small avocado
-500ml veg stock
-1 garlic clove, chopped
-15g fresh basil
optional: ½ to 1 tsp favourite green powder (I used moringa*) or sprinkle of seeds
optional: 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast per bowl (gives a cheesy flavour)
*Note: moringa is high in Vit K so not to be used if on blood thinners/pregnant
Directions
1-Chop the broccoli into small florets, add these along with the peas and stock to a pot and bring to the boil then reduce heat slightly and simmer for 10mins
2– While this cooks, add the avocado, basil, garlic and any additions to a blender, once the soup is done cooking take off the heat and add the contents to the blender and blend until smooth, add a drizzle of water if you want it thinner, then serve up with toppings if desired.
Wow, this is an amazing soup! I’ve never thought of putting avocado in a soup but I think it’s a brilliant idea, I will give it a try next time.
Thankyou, hope you enjoy it!