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Food

01st Aug 2015

60 calorie soup that fights cancer and battles anaemia

It's easy, being green

Katie Mythen-Lynch

Soup: It’s easy to make, simple to transport and filling on a frosty day, a good soup will keep you going where the salad or sandwich fails.

The best soup however is one that’s low in calories and big on taste and health-boosting vitamins and minerals, that’s why this genius little recipe appears on our menu again and again.

Broccoli is a POWERHOUSE of nutrition. The cruciferous veggie is packed with sulforaphane, which has been sown to kill cancer stem cells, improve blood pressure and kidney function. It’s also rich in iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium and folate, which can help combat anaemia.

This soup is on the table in under half an hour and with only two ingredients, there’s really no excuse not to whip up a batch to enjoy this week.

TIP: This soup is a gorgeous verdant green in colour. Persuade dubious little diners to try it by calling it Hulk Soup or Forest Soup.

Ingredients

  • Broccoli (one large head or two small)
  • Chicken stock cubes x 4

Here’s how:

1. Boil the broccoli florets in the stock until tender.

2. Use a ladle to remove them from the water and place in a blender.

3. Add the stock from the pot and blend until you reach your desired consistency. Add less stock for a thicker soup and more for a looser result.

4. Season well with salt and cracked black pepper.

Three naughty toppings to dress it up daily:

Crumble a tablespoon of Stilton into the soup just before serving

Add a tablespoon of cream and garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds for a satisfying crunch

Sprinkle with mint leaves and crumbled ricotta

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