Category: Soups/Stews

Wild-Caught Salmon Chowder

Core Plan
Serves 4
I have been wanting a salmon chowder recipe for a while now and finally threw one together that came out very nicely.  Typical chowders contain white potatoes, corn, and cream, which I normally avoid.  I blended the  cauliflower to give the chowder it’s creamy consistency.  This is a trick that can be used for any typically cream-based soup or stew.  This chowder contains good fats, vegetables, wild-caught salmon and delightful spices that make it a gourmet dish that is quick and simple.  You can leave out the carrots for an Advanced Plan version.
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2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
¾ cup chopped onion
2 stalks organic celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ head organic cauliflower
4 cups organic, free range chicken broth
1 cup filtered water
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried dill weed (or ¼ chopped fresh dill)
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1- 12 ounce wild caught, skinned salmon filet
Heat butter and coconut oil in a large saucepan.  Add carrot, celery, and onion and cook until vegetables just begin to brown.  Add broth, water, salmon, cauliflower, chives, garlic powder, and pepper.  Cover and cook on simmer until salmon is just cooked through.  Remove salmon to a cutting board and flake into pieces.  Meanwhile, scoop out most of the cauliflower (you can leave some florets in the chowder) along with a bit of the broth.  Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.  Return the mixture to the pot and add the dill, mustard.  Mix well and serve.

Kimberly RobertoLeave a comment

Cabbage Soup

This is super affordable, simple to make and packs a powerful health punch.  It is great for leftovers and can be frozen easily.

IMG_07032 tablespoons grass-fed butter
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
½ large onion, chopped
½ large cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 quarts organic, free range chicken or vegetable broth (preferably homemade)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional
Chopped turkey bacon
Sauteed grass-fed beef
1 tomato, chopped

Core Plan:  Cooked brown rice

Sauté the onion and garlic in the butter until softened but do not brown.  Add cabbage, broth, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.  Let simmer for 1 hour covered.  Add 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar and any other optional add-ins.

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Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Core Plan

Serves 4-6

Chicken Pot Pie is an American favorite but 1) making it from scratch is a pain in the neck AND it still isn’t healthy and 2) the store bought, pre-made pies are one of the worst processed foods you can eat.  This is a healthy alternative that is simple and tastes great.  To save some time in preparation, cook the chicken and chop the onions, carrots, and celery ahead of time.

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4 Tablespoons organic butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 medium carrots, sliced (just wash and keep the peel- it’s healthy)
3 celery stalks, diced
1-1/4 cups organic red potatoes, unpeeled, diced (optional)
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
4 cups organic, free-range chicken stock
1-1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon white pepper (do not substitute black pepper)
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly ground is preferable)
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or torn
1/2 cup GMO-free, organic corn
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup coconut milk or heavy cream

Grain-Free Dumplings

1 cup almond flour
¼ tsp thyme
¼ tsp baking powder
1 organic egg
salt/pepper to taste
Start by cooking the chicken on the stove in coconut oil.  You can cut it into chunks before cooking or cut it up afterward.  Set aside.

Cook vegetables and potatoes (if using) with butter in a soup pot over medium heat until softened, about 5-10 minutes.  Whisk in arrowroot powder and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Stir in broth, poultry seasoning, white pepper, salt and nutmeg. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer until thickened, about 10 more minutes or until veggies and potatoes are softened.

Mix up batter for dumplings and drop by teaspoonfuls (you may want to form them a bit with your fingers) and cook for another 5 minutes or so.

Add cooked chicken, corn and peas and cook until heated through.   Remove from heat.  Carefully stir in parsley and coconut milk or cream.

NOTE:  If storing for later, remove the dumplings and add back in while reheating.  Leaving them in the soup may cause them to fall apart.

Kimberly RobertoLeave a comment

Grass-Fed Beef or Free Range Chicken Broth

Broth has long been touted for it’s amazing health benefits.  Broth is wonderful for healing from illness, contains essential vitamins and minerals, promotes digestion and helps heal your gut, inhibits infection, is anti-inflammatory, and promotes healthy bones.  Although this doesn’t make a huge batch of beef broth, the advantage is that the cooking time is shorter and the wonderful smell won’t keep you awake at night.  Roasting the bones before putting them in the crockpot helps intensify the flavor.

beef broth1 lb grass fed beef bones or 1 lb chicken bones or carcasses
3-4 organic carrots, roughly chopped
3-4 celery ribs, with leaves, roughly chopped
1 onion, roughly chopped
½ head garlic, peeled and smashed
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 quarts filtered water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place beef bones on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about an hour.
CrockPot: Put the vegetables in the bottom of the crockpot and put bones on top and add water.  Set the crockpot to high and bring to a boil (about 4 or so hours).  Lower the crockpot to low and cook for an additional 12-48 hours)
Strain the mixture (you can do a second strainer like mesh or cheesecloth if you want the broth even clearer).  Transfer to mason jars.
InstantPot: Put everything in the InstantPot and set for 45 minutes then do a quick release.
Stovetop:  Boil everything in a stockpot for at least 12 hours.
Let cool before storing in the refrigerator or freezer.

Kimberly Roberto1 Comment

Tofu-less Miso Soup

Serves 4-6

Advanced & Core Plan

Although the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans recommend staying away from conventional soy products, miso is a fermented form of soy that fits into the plans as a very healthful form of soy.  Notice, I do leave out tofu which is not fermented and not recommended.

Miso dates back over 2,500 years and is a staple in Asian cuisine.  It is known to stimulate digestion and energize the body.  It is full of enzymes and beneficial microorganisms that will support your gut health.  It also contains all essential amino acids making it a complete protein.  Be sure to buy organic, non-pasteurized miso paste.

miso soup8 cups filtered water
½ cup chopped mushrooms of choice, sliced thin
½ cup organic miso paste (red or white)
1 sheet nori (dried seaweed), cut into rectangles
sea salt to taste

¾ cup chopped green onions for garnish if desired

Place water in a large pot and bring to a low simmer, add mushrooms and nori squares.  Make a paste with the miso by adding a little hot water in a small bowl and mixing until smooth and then add to the pot.  Simmer for 7-10 minutes but do not let it boil (you want to keep the good bacteria in tact).

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