Food

Building up your immune system is especially important during the fall and winter months when we're prone to get sick more often. Holistic Nutritionist Joy McCarthy shares her favourite soup recipe that incorporates essential vitamins and minerals to help your body fight off colds and viruses—while keeping you healthy too.

Ingredients

2 tbsp grapeseed or coconut oil
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cups chickpeas, cooked
2 garlic cloves, raw
1.5 tsp dried Italian herbs, (oregano, basil, rosemary, etc.)
2 whole green onions
2 quarts (8 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
1 lemon, for juice and zest
1/2 cup parsley, fresh
to taste sea salt and pepper

Preparation

In a soup pot, heat the oil under medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and sauté for 10 minutes until tender.

Remove from heat and add all the ingredients to a blender, plus the cooked chickpeas, garlic, dried Italian herbs, green onions, chicken or veggie stock, lemon juice, lemon zest and fresh parsley. Transfer pureed soup to the pot and reheat.

Taste and add sea salt and pepper if needed.

Serves six to eight.