Root Vegetable Detox Soup

Every year, we focus on our consumption between Christmas and New Year's Day, that short period of gluttony, childhood delicacies, alcoholic beverages and sweet treats! But what about our eating habits between New Year's Day and Christmas, or simply put, the rest of the year? It is normal and even important to allow ourselves to deviate from our healthy lifestyle habits for a night (or two!), the important thing is to know how to get back on track. 

The concept of detoxifying our body is done every day. Naturally, our body must get rid of toxins that enter via our nasal and digestive tracts, but also via one of our largest organs: the skin.  

There is no need to completely change the way we eat to help detoxify. That said, certain foods are to be favored such as ginger, turmeric, garlic and onions, green vegetables, beets, the cabbage family, lemon and fresh herbs.

Eating smaller portions and avoiding meals high in bad fats (fried foods) will also help your system. In addition, exercise is great for digestion, circulation and elimination. So put on your snow boots and winter gloves, it's time to get moving! When you return, this soup will certainly warm you up. 

Servings : 4-6 servings

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Meals: Dinner, appetizer, snack 

Cooking: Sgluten-free, detox

Culinary tools: Griddle, electric (mixer) or hand-held blender, large bowls, large skillet, ladle, knife, cutting board

Refrigeration: Up to 1 week

Freezing : Recommended 

Ingredients of the Detox soup with root vegetables

• Approximately 907 g (2 lbs) organic yellow beets
• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 1/2 tsp of sea salt 
• 1/2 tsp. of black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric
• 1 tbsp. fresh ginger, peeled
• 2 medium organic leeks
• 1 garlic bulb
• 2 x 600ml of chicken bone broth with lemon and ginger
• 2 tsp. of La Fée des Bois detoxifying herbal tea
• Pure avocado oil

Topping

• 10 sprigs of chives
• Young shoots of your choice
• 1 small ripe avocado
• Fresh ginger in thin strips 

Steps for the Detox Root Vegetable Soup

Herbal tea 

• Bring 2 cups of filtered water to a boil. Pour over 2 tsp. of detoxifying herbal tea. Let infuse for 15 minutes.

Soup

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Separate the leek green from the white and set the green aside. If using whole beets with leaves, separate the leaves from the roots and set the leaves aside (see tips for using leek greens and beet leaves). Cut the leek white in half lengthwise. Wash thoroughly. Slice into half slices and set aside in a small bowl. 
3. Slice the cap off a garlic bulb to expose the cloves. Pour inavocado oil and sprinkle with salt.
4. Peel and chop beets, sweet potatoes and onions. In a large bowl, mix them all with a dash ofavocado oiloil, the turmeric, salt and black pepper. 
5. Arrange vegetables and garlic on a baking sheet previously covered with parchment paper.
6. Place in the oven for about 40 minutes. 
7. Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat the organic chicken bone broth. Add the detoxifying herbal tea. 
8. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add theavocado oil and leek slices. Cook for about 7 minutes.
9. Remove the vegetables from the oven. Take the garlic bulb and cool it on a plate. Add the peeled fresh ginger and the remaining vegetables to the hot broth. 
10. When cooled, squeeze the garlic cloves, taking care to separate the peel from the puree. Add to the soup. 
11. Simmer uncovered for about 20-30 minutes. 
12. Remove the pot from the heat and let the soup cool. 
13. Using an electric or hand blender, puree until smooth.
14. On a cutting board, thinly slice the chives and fresh ginger. Slice the avocado into thin strips. If you have any, take the young shoots out of the refrigerator.
15. Garnish each bowl and serve!

Tips and tricks for the Detox Root Vegetable Soup

• For another recipe full of goodness, see our green vegetable detox soup
• Prefer the freshness of salads? Try this beet meal salad
• Leek greens can easily be made into a side dish. Simply remove any leaves that are too stiff and clean up any soft leaves. Cut the leaves into pieces and brown in a pan with butter or oil of your choice. Perfect to add to a pasta recipe in white sauce or to accompany white fish.
• Beet greens are a great addition to salads or even your morning smoothies! They can also be cooked, like leek greens, to accompany a protein meal.

Substitutions for Root Vegetable Detox Soup

• The color of the beets will not change the taste of the recipe. If you have red beets on hand, make good use of them! 
• If you can't get your hands on leeks, you can simply add more yellow onions and beets.
• For a 100% vegan version, you can replace the chicken bone broth with organic vegetable broth.

Enjoy your meal!

Valérie Gendron-Legault