Coconut Chicken Soup (Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

By Kathy C.

This healthy soup is creamy and flavorful, thanks to the base which combines chicken broth, coconut milk, and soy sauce. You can bump the heat up or down to suit your tastes, by adjusting the amount of crushed red pepper you add...My husband loves spicy food, so I also made a kicked-up variation of this recipe by adding some curry powder and serving it over a bed of brown rice. Both versions were delicious. This would be a simple way to stretch a big pot of soup into a completely different meal on day 2 or 3.
http://www.frugallivingnw.com/frugal-homemaking/healthy-coconut-chicken-soup-recipe-paleo-gluten-free-dairy-free/

Ingredients

• 2 T. coconut oil
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 ” piece of fresh ginger, grated
• 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
• 5 c. homemade chicken broth
• 1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes
• 4 oz. shitake mushrooms, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 c. greens (chopped spinach, bok choy, and/or broccoli)
• 2 c. cooked chicken, cubed
• 1 (13.5 oz.) can of coconut milk
• 1/4 c. tamari or soy sauce

Preparation

Step 1

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, and jalapenos; sauté for 2-3 min, stirring often.
2. Add chicken broth, red pepper flakes, and mushrooms. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 min.
3. Add red bell pepper and simmer for 5 min. Add greens, chicken, coconut milk, and soy sauce and simmer an additional 3-5 min, until soup is warmed through and the greens are just barely wilted.

How to Wash Leafy Greens: Greens, like chard, kale, spinach, fennel, or bok choy, can be tricky to wash because the leaves trap so much grit and dirt. Here is a fast, easy way to clean greens:
1. Trim off the lower stems ends. These are often tough and split. Either discard into a compost bin or wash & use for a Green Juice!
2. If chopping the greens, slice through the leaves lengthwise, then run your knife through the greens to create strips. Whole leaves work great with this method, too!
3. Place in a large bowl and fill with cold water. This will keep crisp and clean the greens at the same time.
4. Wait for a few seconds to let the dirt settle to the bottom of the bowl. Then using your hands, push the greens down into the water several times, swishing and plunging to remove all the dirt.
5. Lift the greens out of the water. Don’t pour them out of the bowl or you’ll dump the dirt back on top of the greens. If you want the greens really dry, place in a salad spinner, towel, or colander until you’re ready to use.