There is nothing better than a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup to make you feel nourished and it is even better if you can get someone else to cook it for you.
Having warm broths, soups and stews are the go to when it comes to postpartum food. Why? Because they heal you from the inside out, they warm you up (our bodies our very open so we need to be sure to eat warm food and avoid cold uncooked foods), they are light and nourishing and they aid digestion which is very slow after having a baby. All these foods also give you heaps of energy and when cooked by someone else fill you up with love too.
My chicken noodle soup will be one of the first meals I cook for my mum and they often ask me to cook it several times over my visits as they all say it just makes them feel happy, nourished and full of energy.
So I cannot believe I am going to do this, but yes, I am going to share my special recipe so you can all enjoy it, mums near and far!! What I would suggest you do is share this recipe with a loved one and kindly ask that they make this for you (it is simple and inexpensive and they can always keep a bowl for themselves too) as I promise when made with love by someone else this soup will keep you going through those tough first couple of months!!
Shopping List:
Whole organic chicken (or you can cheat a bit and buy a organic cooked chicken)
Lemon and rosemary (to stuff the chicken with)
String
White wine
Onion
Garlic
3 x large carrots
3 x celery stalks
Ghee
Fresh parsley
Seaweed
Stock
Salt and pepper
To cook the chicken
I love to put my chicken in the slow cooker as I find it so moist and extra juicy! Stuff the chicken with a lemon and handful of rosemary and tie the legs. Brown the chicken all over in a pan and place upside down (to keep it extra moist) in the slow cooker. Back in the pan add a cup of water and 1/2 a cup of wine and bring to the boil. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker. Put the lid on and cook on high for 1.5 hours.
For the soup
1. Remove meat from the chicken and I actually only use about half the meat for the soup so you can use the other half for a chicken pie or curry. Keep the bones as I then use them to make bone broth which once again I do in the slow cooker.
2. On a medium heat in a deep pan, use two big table spoons of ghee to fry onion, 3 garlic cloves, your carrots and celery until brown (takes about 15 minutes).
3. Add half a litre of stock or bone broth and half a litre of water
4. Add your cut up chicken and bring to the boil
5. Simmer for 45 mins and add salt and pepper, break up a small handful of seaweed and good sprinkle of parsley to taste, add more water if needed
6. Break up a handful of spaghetti and cook in a separate pan (as it absorbs all the liquid otherwise)
7. Get your favourite bowl add the noodles and then the soup and I love a big crusty loaf with mine too! And enjoy!
8. You can freeze the soup or leave in the fridge to be enjoyed for lunch or dinner for the next few days.
So there you have it my nourishing postpartum chicken noodle soup. I hope it brings you love, energy and happiness in every bowl you have.