Even if you don’t mind chilly weather, cosy evenings on the sofa, and a more low-speed calendar through the winter months, there’s one thing that comes for us all with indiscriminate abandon: the winter lurgies. A good way to prep your body for the onslaught of the year’s latest editions of the common cold and flu is to have a diet high in vitamins and minerals, and what better way to get those in with a healthy dose of hydration than the humble soup?
A great option is ‘Italian Penicillin’, a super-healthy soup packed with vitamin-rich vegetables and plenty of antioxidants. It’s simple and cheap to make too — let’s take a look at the method:
-
Chop portions of celery, carrot, and onion and stick them in a pan with vegetable stock;
-
Add a few cloves of garlic and a thumb-sized knob of ginger;
-
Boil and simmer the ingredients until cooked;
READ MORE:Ninja’s ‘powerful and portable blender’ that’s perfect for smoothies is £10 cheaper on Amazon
This is a hearty, warming soup that should give you a refreshing, health-affirming little tingle at the back of the throat. It’s a great pick if you’re already ill, with plenty of nutrition and hydration to re-arm your immune system against whatever ails you, but it’s also a delicious recipe to add to your general routine and keep you healthy. To make a traditional pastina — the official name for ‘Italian Penicillin’ — add some chunks of chicken breast for a protein-rich boost.
If you’re in the need for something to blend your new favourite soup, check out the Morphy Richards 1.6L Clarity Soup Maker at Amazon for £71.97 down from £89.99 (price correct at the time of writing). This soup maker rapidly whips up smooth soups, it’s easy to clean, and you can keep tabs on progress thanks to the clear-plastic body.
It’s a bankable option according to Amazon customers, with 4.2 out of 5 stars averaged from 850 reviews so far. “Makes soups taste like you’re in a high class restaurant,” said a five-star review. “Never knew I loved soup so much until purchasing this amazing machine. First class soup in just 21 minutes.”
“Had it for two years now, used weekly,” said another five-star review. “It just makes great soup!”
Another added: “Clear plastic means you can you see what you’ve made with easy instructions and a very handy self-clean button. Tasty homemade soup in 21 minutes — it’s great!”
Some have complained of the plastic beginning to tarnish up after repeated use. “ After using it four times, following the instructions, I found the plastic had started to cloud,” said a three-star review.
Another said similar: “How can anyone design a product that tarnishes after two uses? It’s crazy. After two batches of soup, the clear plastic part was all cloudy and marked, looked like food was cooked on to it, but it wasn’t.”
If you’re keen to keep your options open, you could instead opt for this Salter soup and smoothie maker for £59.99 at Currys. For an ultra-premium experience, this Ninja Foodi blender is the way to go for £129.99 at Robert Dyas.