There seems to be far too many bad cases of flu going around lately, which I have so far thankfully managed to avoid. So as well as getting far away as possible from anyone who dares so much as sniffle near me, I’m making a super flu fighting magic soup elixir to make sure it doesn’t get me. My current method of warding off flu is adding a dose of good for your gut miso to just about everything! I am really not one for food fads, but fermented food is the one food fad that I’m happy to jump on board with.
That’s because unlike most food fads that are mostly based on the wellness gossip mill, there is some real science behind the idea of fermented foods being good for you. It’s based off science saying that in general people who have more varied gut bacteria are generally healthier. So the idea is to add more bacteria to your gut by eating fermented foods, makes sense right!? Which is why your insta feed is now full of kombucha and sauerkraut. But before you head out to buy your kombucha making kit, it is important to note that it is still early days and science is still out on how much benefit you really get from eating fermented foods. But hey if it tastes good then why not add a little extra bacteria to your diet. And miso adds a rich complex savoury flavour that you just can’t beat.
So though I may not be able to guarantee the you won’t get flu part, I can guarantee that if it doesn’t happen to save you from the plague, then it’s a perfect soup to keep you cozy while you’re zombied out on the couch with netflix on. You do have to be careful with the miso as high heating will kill off the all that good bacteria, so make sure you only heat gently, or only add the miso after it’s cooled a little.
Sweet Potato and Miso Soup
Serves: 2
dairy free, gluten free, vegan
3 sweet potatoes (200g)
1 can coconut milk
2 cups water
juice half a lime
2 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp white miso paste
Preheat the oven to 220C. Pierce the sweet potato with a knife or fork. Roast for 45mins until soft inside. Let cool a bit then scoop out all the flesh into a blender.
Add all the rest of the ingredients to a blender, except the miso. The probiotics in the miso will be killed off by boiling water so be gentle with the heat here. Either add the miso and then only gently heat up the soup, or heat up the soup when ready to serve then add the miso.
