Home Dinner Magic “Feel Better” Soup

Magic “Feel Better” Soup

by Ann
27 comments

Feel Better Magic Soup

This soup is one of the best things to make when you’re feeling sick. I haven’t made it in years, but it was one of those things that has always made me feel better, not just because it’s full of loads of good vitamins and herbs, but also because it tastes soothing and comforting and warm.  It’s so tasty, you don’t really need to be sick to make it. But it will help you feel better if you are.


I have struggled with sinus problems for a good part of my adult life … there was a period in my life when I was getting a sinus infection every month. As soon as I would get done with one, I was getting another one. I was on a constant stream of antibiotics and always felt miserable. I’ve learned ways of coping with it now so I haven’t had one now in over a year, but this morning I woke up and I could feel one coming on … this is NOT a good time to be sick! My sister is coming to visit this weekend … I started thinking of all the things I used to do to make them go away and I remembered this soup I used to make.

The last time I made this soup was long before I had all the fresh herbs I have now and I don’t exactly recall what herbs I used to put in it back then. I remember the basic formula for it, though. And this is how it goes …

Magic Feel Better Soup

Magic “Feel Better” Soup

  • 1 large potato, cut into hunks (about 2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup of chopped carrots
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 cups of chicken (or vegetable) broth
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3 cups of fresh swiss chard or spinach, washed and chopped
  • A handful of fresh herbs: I used basil, thyme, rosemary, & parsley
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt or fat free half and half
  • Sriracha or other hot sauce, to taste (to open up the sinuses)
  • Freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley (optional)

Directions:

  1. Put the potato, carrots, garlic, bay leaf, onion and broth into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer (medium low) and cook for about 20 – 30 minutes or until the potato is fall-apart tender and the other vegies are soft.
  2. Fish out the bay leaf and stir in the chard. Cover the pot and cook for just a couple minutes or until the chard is cooked. Add the herbs.
  3. Pour the soup into a blender (or use an immersion blender), add the yogurt or half and half and blend until smooth. Add more broth if you want a thinner soup. I like my soup pretty thick. Serve hot, topped with Sriracha and shredded cheese and garnish with fresh parsley. That red swirl you see there … that’s the Sriracha.

Feel Better Magic Soup

This recipe was shared at Foodie Friends FridayFit & Fabulous Fridays, Scrumptious Sundays, Family Fresh Meals, the Ultimate Soup Recipe LinkyManic MondayKatherine Martinelli’s Comfort Food BloghopIron Chef Mom Carrots and Fit & Fabulous Fridays.

Your Child’s Food made a Thai-inspired version of this soup that is dairy free. I really love her twist on it! Her recipe is here.

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27 comments

Bam's Kitchen July 25, 2012 - 9:40 pm

Looks yummy and anything with garlic and hot sauce has to get you breathing freely soon. I hope you are feeling better. Take care, BAM

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Ann July 26, 2012 - 1:04 pm

Thank you! I hope I am too … yes, the garlic and hot sauce are definitely helping 🙂

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rantsfrommycrazykitchen July 25, 2012 - 10:00 pm

Sounds so good I’m sharing on my FB page!! Feel better soon!

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Claire July 25, 2012 - 11:28 pm

This looks great, and I very much need to clear out my sinuses right now (when I told my doctor I would not be doing another round of antibiotics without knowing exactly what was wrong, what came back from the scan was the worst sinus affection she has ever seen – and I am not prone to them). A few questions to adapt it to my needs: Do you think plain coconut milk yogurt would work? (I am allergic to milk and stay away from soy most of the time.) Do you have any dairy free/egg free alternative ideas for the garnish? Maybe some slivered almonds (good for settling the stomach)?

Maybe I will try a Chinese influenced soup based on this recipe. I can replace the bay leaf with lemon grass and ginger, I can put some bok choy in with the chard. For the herbs, I could use Thai basil and cilantro. Then I could use coconut yogurt for the cream. The Sriracha hot sauce fits right in to these flavors. I could top with slivered almonds and chives (or chive flowers). Do you think this would still have the make feel better effect?

Thank you so much for the timely post, and I hope you feel better soon.

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Ann July 26, 2012 - 7:41 am

Claire yes, I think coconut milk yogurt would be wonderful in this soup and I like the idea of almonds as garnish! The Chinese version of this soup sounds AMAZING … I would love to see it when you are done, and yes, I think it would probably even have more of that healing effect. I know ginger is very good for the sinuses.

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Claire July 26, 2012 - 10:29 am

Thank you Ann. I will share with your facebook fan page when I get my version done. I probably will not get it up before this weekend.

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Linda July 26, 2012 - 12:59 am

Gee, I thought I felt pretty darn good….I now feel even better !!

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Ann July 26, 2012 - 7:39 am

Aw, thanks Linda 🙂

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misbah July 26, 2012 - 4:37 am

The soup looks delicious and get well soon Ann xo

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Ann July 26, 2012 - 7:40 am

Thank you Misbah … I’m starting to feel a bit better. Hopefully this will continue 🙂

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Audrey July 26, 2012 - 11:12 am

That looks wonderful Ann…and I just happen to have the ingredients to make it for lunch today!! I hope you are feeling better and will enjoy your family’s visit. Audrey

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Ann July 26, 2012 - 12:44 pm

how handy is that? I hope you enjoy it! I’m still fighting it. I am doing much better today, though, than I was yesterday, so I’m hoping tomorrow I’m feeling even better and ready for the weekend!

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thelady8home July 30, 2012 - 9:30 pm

I found you at Bobbi’s, and love the soup. I really like it. It looks like a perfect food for a chilli evening. I suffer from sinus often, so I have to bookmark this.

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Ann July 30, 2012 - 9:41 pm

I hope it helps you too!

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Amee Beck Livingston August 1, 2012 - 10:05 pm

This would definitely cheer me up! Thanks for sharing Ann!

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Young Wifey August 4, 2012 - 5:13 pm

I need this now, we all have sinus and chest congestion in my house! (And only two weeks left before school starts!) Thanks for sharing, not if only someone will run to the store…

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Ann August 5, 2012 - 3:54 pm

That’s awful! I hope you all feel better soon … and hope the soup helps 🙂

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Young Wifey August 5, 2012 - 4:08 pm

Thanks!

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Michele August 7, 2012 - 2:33 pm

Really LOVE this, Ann 🙂 Making it NOW and am so very glad it’s something simple with ingredients most of us have in the pantry! Yay! Don’t have to “make groceries”, as they say in these parts, to have some, Thank you dear friend! xoxoxo

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Ann August 7, 2012 - 2:36 pm

I hope it helps you feel better, Michele! LOL about “making groceries” … it makes for so much work when you have to run to the store too, doesn’t it?

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Betsy at Zen Mama August 10, 2012 - 11:08 am

This looks great! Can’t wait to try it, even if I’m feeling good!!

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Ann August 10, 2012 - 11:13 am

Thanks so much Betsy … If you’re feeling good already, it should make you feel even better! 🙂

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Jayne November 11, 2012 - 5:07 am

This certainly looks as if it would make you feel better! Great recipe!

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Ann November 12, 2012 - 8:39 am

Thank you so much Jayne! It always helps me feel better 🙂

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Kelly Wells {Adorned Well} January 6, 2013 - 12:50 am

This soup looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for bringing the recipe to my get well party! 🙂

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Jan November 5, 2015 - 1:24 pm

This soup is magically delicious! Thanks, Ann!

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Ann November 5, 2015 - 9:22 pm

Thank you, Jan!

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