Golden Noodle Soup

This soup has a whole serving of vitamin-and-mineral-goodness to help you recover from whatever is ailing you, including just overdoing it at the gym. It’s especially good during germs season. This is a minimalist soup so that you can make it without too much fuss or bother using things that are likely on hand when you or your loved ones aren’t feeling well. Ready in about 30 minutes.

For additional tonic and immune-boosting, add in some ginger with the garlic and onion, and a hint of cayenne along with the turmeric.

You can use any noodle or pasta, here. Use rice noodles for a gluten free version, or wide egg noodles for an American classic. Add miso and soy sauce for the bullion for a more Asian flavor palate, or chicken broth and chopped chicken. If you have eggs on hand, you can slice a hard boiled egg on top to help provide a protein boost.

It also takes quite nicely to additional vegetables that you have on hand, and I like to add chopped bok choy and shiitake mushrooms to the base if I have them on hand. Any leafy green will serve you nicely here, and if you have some fresh spinach, it’s nice to wilt some on top for the last few minutes of cooking.

Ingredients

Olive oil

4 cups broth (or bullion in water, or just water)

1/2 c. red lentils

1-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 medium onion, diced

1 tablespoon turmeric

Black pepper to taste (the amount is optional, but some is needed to release the healing benefits of the turmeric)

Salt, to taste

Any other chopped vegetables as desired for the base

Chopped chicken, if desired

Noodles

Directions

1. Add olive oil to a heavy pan and heat. 
2. Add onion, lentils, garlic, and any base vegetables you desire such as ginger, mushrooms, bok choy, or celery. Stir and let simmer for 3-5 minutes, until onion is transparent.
3. Stir in turmeric and black pepper and any other seasonings, 
4. Stir in broth and bring to a vigorous simmer, adding any meats or vegetables. I like to add carrots here, and this is the time to add potatoes if you’re using them. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
5. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Boil as directed to make sure pasta is cooked through.
6. Reduce heat and add anything that needs wilting, such as fresh spinach or diced lemongrass. Stir and let wilt, usually three minutes or so.
7. Serve with whatever toppings you have on hand that seem appealing: a hard boiled egg, or croutons, or just as is.