Detox Day 1 (Monday Recap)

Today's recipe comes from one of my favourite cookbooks- The William-Sonoma Cookbook. I actually haven't found a William Sonoma cookbook I didn't love! Their cookbooks contain recipes that are simple, fresh and delicious! This soup recipe isn't specific for a detox but with it's simple ingredients it definitely fits the bill! Pair it with a simple spinach salad (red wine vinegar and olive oil) and you have dinner hit!

Lentil Soup 

2 tsp coconut oil (olive oil is called for but isn't great heated)

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1 bay leaf

2 tsp curry powder

1 cup canned diced tomatoes with juice

1 1/2 cup dried lentils (brown or pink, picked over, rinsed and drained)

6 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock

1 lemon, sliced

1 cup coarsely chopped spinach leaves

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic and bay leaf and saute until vegetables are softened, about 5 min. Stir in curry powder  and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, lentils, stock and lemon slices. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender (about 30 min). Discard lemon slices and bay leaf. Add spinach just before serving.

This recipe is a hit with my family (including my toddler). I do skip the spinach, I have a thing with wilted greens and opt for a side spinach and mushroom salad instead. A side note, no one in my family has an issue with nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant) so we aren't excluding them from our detox diet, however, these can be a common allergen. This soup is likely flavourful enough to omit the tomatoes for anyone who does have an issue, though I haven't tried it personally.

Disclaimer: Naturopathic Doctors strive to provide individualized health care. The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. This information shouldn’t take the place of seeing an ND for individualized health recommendations. 

---