La soupe du jour

Our secret to getting through the winter months is a broth shot with breakfast every morning. It is something we discovered in Asia although most folk in the west have a grandparent or two who would swear by a good chicken broth to cure ills and chills.

Ingredients 

Bones (from chicken)

Garlic

Leeks

Onions 

Any vegetable leftovers

Thyme & parsley

Chilli

Pepper black

Water 

Fresh coriander leaves to serve. 

Method

Place all the items in a pot and bring to the boil. Skim as required. Simmer gently (slow cooker cook overnight if you have it) for at least three hours. 

When ready let cool and strain the broth. Season to taste and serve with fresh coriander leaves. This broth gives your immune system a terrific boost so would be good all year round and not just for winter. 

The secret of survival mid winter

Most people living through winter in Europe in times past knew the value of a good broth. In Ireland, which knows a thing or two about famine, the saying went

“ gan aon ocras mór nuair a bhíonn brat ann” or “no great hunger when there is a broth”! Well you simply cannot beat a good broth and in fact the Asians I met in sunny Singapore consume it for breakfast! 

I think the beauty of broth is that it’s so simple and delicious. You just need one pot! Simple ingredients. It’s also so flexible. You can tweak it so that it meets your specific and current desires. A little more garlic? A little less ginger? More chili?!

I make mine overnight in a slow cooker. It’s ideal for such broths and you wake up in the morning with a delightful aroma in the kitchen! 

Ingredients to make a pot for a week 

4 chicken legs

1 leek

1 onion

1 carrot

1 bulb garlic

1 fennel

1 celery 

6 liters of water

Bunch of parsley & thyme 

Chop all ingredients and place in the slow cooker. Switch on for overnight cooking (around 5 hours).

Strain and season to taste. I usually serve in a cup with diced raw charlottes, garlic and basil oil! 

It may well be winter outside but there is a warming glow from within!