Ginger and mushrooms soup

LER EM PORTUGUÊS

Well, this is the time for colds and the flu, and so there is nothing better than a soup with ginger to warm and breathe better. Actually, ginger has been used since ancient times to ameliorate the flu [1] and scientific studies revealed that ginger possesses anti-inflammatory proprieties [2]. In this way, please take not of this recipe, in which, basically, you have to cook everything together and then whizz using a stick blender or a food processor. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 medium courgette
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 choko
• 1 small onion
• 2 medium white mushrooms
• 2 small potatoes
• 1 slice of ginger (approximately the diameter of your thumb)
• 1 large garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• salt

METHOD:

1. Heat a medium saucepan with water (approximately ¾ of the saucepan).
2. Peel and slice all the ingredients and add them to the saucepan. Season with salt. Then, let it cook for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes have softened.
3. Then, whizz the soup with a stick blender or in a food processor until smooth.
4. Add the olive oil, stir and taste it. Let it boil for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

[1] Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. 2011. Chapter 7.

[2] Chang JS, Wang KC, Yeh CF, Shieh DE, Chiang LC. Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2013; 145 (1):146-51.