This is more than just a recipe blog. I am not a chef. I am a mom of four children, one of whom has an autoimmune disease, wife of a Crossfit junkie, and healthy food lover. I love learning about and cooking new, healthy and delicious food. This is simply me sharing the ways I take care of my family by being aware and mindful of the food I feed them and as a result making lots of Gluten Free & Paleo Recipes by Melissa.
I first posted this soup almost a year ago and after making it for dinner recently I knew I had to give it the spot light again. This soup is light yet so savory. And here’s my tricky little secret…it’s creamy without using any cream. So good for you and good tasting!
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 clove garlic, minced
2 celery ribs, chopped
4-5 cups chicken stock (however thick you want it)
2 bay leafs
1 tsp turmeric
1 pinch saffron threads, about a quarter of a teaspoon
2 carrots, chopped
2 red potatoes, cubed
1 can great northern beans, pureed
1 small yellow crookneck squash, sliced
chopped parsley
Heat olive oil in pot. Add onion, garlic and celery. Saute until onions are caramelized then pour in your chicken stock, bay leafs, turmeric, carrots and potatoes. Bring to a low boil and let cook for about 5 minutes while you puree the beans (you may need to add some of the stock from your pot into the beans in the food processor) Mix pureed beans in until well blended. Add squash and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Remove bay leaves and top with fresh parsley.
*I’ll just say if up front, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, about $800 a pound! Don’t worry you don’t need near that much. You’ll probably pay about $13 for a packet of these tiny red threads, but the flavor and benefits may make it worth it.
- The active components present in saffron have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines since long time ago as anti-spasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic.
- Research studies have shown that, safranal, a volatile oil found in the spice, has antioxidant, cytotoxicity towards cancer cells, anticonvulsant and antidepressant properties.
- Αlfa-crocin, a carotenoid compound, which gives the spice its characteristic golden yellow color, has anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, and anti-cancer properties.
