Recipe: French Potage Soup

When someone is trying to lose weight, Ayurveda does not recommend fasting. Fasting weakens digestion, making it harder for the body to process and absorb food and its nutrients. To promote weight loss, one of the techniques in Ayurveda is the liquid diet. Meals are taken in pureed form which is easier to digest. Soups are the best way to do the liquid diet.

Soups are especially good to eat during season changes when the body is transitioning and purifying. This light vegetable soup is a good way to start the kapha season when we are trying to discharge some of the fat we accumulated in the vata winter season. It is easy and flavorful.

French Potage

• 2 T extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 3 cloves finely chopped garlic
• 1 medium potato diced
• 3-4 cups assorted chopped veggies: carrots, celery, turnip, rutabaga, daikon, zucchini
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 1 t dried thyme
• 1 T salt
• 1/2 t pepper
• 1/4 cup each fresh chopped basil and parsley
• 1/4 cup wine

1. Saute onion in olive oil until soft. Add the remaining vegetables and stir for a few minutes.
2. Add 2 cups water and let the veggies steam saute covered until soft.
3. Add water to cover veggies and the rest of the dried ingredients. Let mixture come to a soft boil for 10 minutes. Add wine and fresh spices.
4. Puree soup with hand blender. Taste for seasonings and add as needed.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa