Golden Turmeric Chicken Soup (Printable Version)

Golden, fragrant chicken soup with turmeric and warming spices for wellness and comfort.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
07 - 1 small zucchini, diced
08 - 3.5 oz baby spinach (about 2 cups, packed)

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 1½ teaspoons ground turmeric
10 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
11 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
13 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste

→ Liquids

14 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - Juice of ½ lemon

→ Herbs

17 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add the diced chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the pieces turn opaque.
04 - Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
05 - Add zucchini and simmer for another 5 minutes.
06 - Stir in spinach and cook for 2 more minutes until wilted. Squeeze in lemon juice and season with salt and chili flakes if using.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The rich golden color transforms an ordinary chicken soup into something that feels like liquid sunshine in a bowl, especially welcome on gloomy days.
  • You can adjust the spice level to suit your mood - sometimes I go heavy on the ginger when I need an extra boost, or add more chili flakes when my sinuses need clearing.
02 -
  • Turmeric can stain countertops and wooden spoons, so I learned to use metal spoons and wipe spills immediately after an unfortunate incident with my favorite cutting board.
  • Adding the spinach too early will cause it to become mushy and dull in color - those two minutes at the end are exactly right for perfect wilting.
03 -
  • For an even more intense flavor boost, toast the ground spices in the dry pot for 30 seconds before adding the oil and vegetables - this awakens the essential oils in the spices.
  • If youre making this soup when youre actually feeling under the weather, increase the ginger and add a pinch of cayenne pepper - the combination seems to help clear congestion almost immediately.
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