Creamy Chicken & Brown Rice Soup

Comforting Creamy Chicken & Brown Rice Soup

Written by: Everee Women

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Published on

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Time to read 2 min

Prep time

10 min

Cook time

45 min

Servings

2-3

Category

Desert

Origin

New Zealand

Feeding Your Mind With Good Mood Food


There’s evidence to suggest that when our guts are inflamed, it can affect our mood. Some of the small proteins that control this inflammation are known as cytokines. Important for many bodily functions (like mediating and regulating immunity) an elevated level of cytokines has also been linked to depression (the Cytokine Hypothesis). There may also be a link between the bacteria in our digestive systems and anxiety.


Food can have a big impact on our mood, and mental well-being – so what foods should we be eating to support our mental health and total sense of ‘well’?


Recipe


Brown rice delivers a hit of B vitamins, while the protein from chicken can help with making neurotransmitters in our brains, as well as selenium which can cheer us up and help our mental functioning. This gut-healing, mood supporting soup with Everee #3 is loaded with celery (feel free to add more than the recipe) which has been used to treat anxiety for thousands of years.


Sources of nutrients to ease anxiety:


Keep these in mind and add to your daily nutrition to help ease anxiety.


B Vitamins Leafy green vegetables, whole grains, eggs, poultry, milk, soybeans
Vitamin C
Oranges, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, parsley, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale
Magnesium
Pumpkin, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, leafy green vegetables
Complex Carbohydrates
Oatmeal, whole-grain breads, brown rice, kumara, carrots, green vegetables
Healthier Fats
Salmon, tuna, walnuts, flax-seed, beans, tofu, olive oil, avocados, almonds, cashews & peanuts
Protein Sources
Fish, shellfish, skinless chicken, dairy, lean cuts of red meat, eggs, legumes, tofu, soy milk, Ovitage®
Serotonin & Tryptophan enhancers
Poultry, milk, bananas, oats, cheese, nuts, peanut butter, sesame seeds, Ovitage®

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon salted butter
  • 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 3 sprigs of thyme (or use a teaspoon of chopped thyme if you can’t get sprigs)
  • 1 Tablespoon whole wheat flour
  • 3 handfuls of brown rice
  • 2 cups of chicken stock (add more depending on how thick you like your soups)
  • 2 heaped teaspoons Everee #3 (or your coice of Everee)
  • 2 chicken breasts cooked (poaching is easiest)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
  • 2 Tablespoons cream

Directions

Step 1

Melt the butter in a large pan and add the celery, carrots, onion, garlic and thyme. Cook over a moderate heat for 8 minutes, stirring often.

Step 2

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for a further 2 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. You may need to add a tablespoon of the stock if it seems to be sticking too much.

Step 3

Rinse the rice thoroughly and then add to the pan. Gradually stir in the stock, adding water if the mixture seems too thick. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently over a low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4

Add the cooked chicken and parsley and simmer for another 10 minutes or until rice is cooked.

Step 5

Take off the heat and stir in the cream and Everee #3.

Step 6

Pour into bowls and enjoy some comforting brain food!