Tibetan Potato Soup

If you’ve been making mashed potatoes all month, (like we have,) it’s nice to have a follow-up recipe to use up all of those mashed potato left-overs (if there are any :).

I’m not sure where I acquired this recipe, but I have great gratitude for whoever wrote it down. This is the most healing soup you will ever encounter…(Take a seat, Chicken Noodle). The capsaicin in the chili power and curcumin in the turmeric are anti-viral and super anti-inflammatory.

You can make it as spicy as you like and it traditionally uses ghee rather than coconut oil, but I feel the monolaurin in the coconut oil is important in boosting the immune potency of this soup.

You may wonder why I have so many soup recipes… to me, soup is spleen food. When you’re recovering from an illness like EBV or a degenerative condition like hyperthyroidism, you need to feed your spleen to heal. Cooking the soup helps break down the nutrients so your body has less work to do, allowing your spleen to build blood for your body.

Makes about 8 cups.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1 tablespoon minced gingerroot

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• 1 cup diced onion

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala

• 3 cups mashed potatoes

• 4 cups spring water or veggie broth

• 1 cup chopped carrots

• 1 cup spinach or chard leaves, chopped

• 1 -1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• Dulse seaweed flakes to taste (red seaweeds help clean the body of heavy metals)

• 2 teaspoons Kosher and/or Sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 tablespoons chopped green onions or chives

• parsley

Directions

1. Melt oil in large saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add ginger, garlic, onion and carrots and stir-fry over medium to medium-high. Heat for 5 minutes.

3. Add turmeric, chili powder and masala. Stir-fry 1/2 minute longer.

4. Add potato and mix. Cook and stir 3 minutes. (If you like a smooth soup, add water or broth, 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly with wire whisk to prevent lumps from forming.)

5. Stir and add spinach.

6. Mix well and bring to boil. Add vinegar, dulse, salt and pepper.

7. Simmer 5 minutes. If soup is too thick, add water.

8. Add green onions or parsely and mix well.

9. Let rest before serving.

Golden Paste for Dogs (and People!)

The benefits of turmeric will astound you. It combats inflammation and nurtures the body. Integrating it into your dogs meals (and yours!) may help them (and you) heal faster and live longer. For more information on the healing power of turmeric, check out this article from GreenMedInfo: 900 Reasons Turmeric Might be the World's Most Important Herb

This recipe is shared by Ruthy, an herbalist and massage therapist at Pike Creek Pets - Canine Massage Therapy. Learn more here.

• 1/2 cup turmeric powder

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup raw unrefined coconut oil (or 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup peanut butter for picky dogs)

• 1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Boil the water in a medium saucepan. Add the turmeric and black pepper to the boiling water and simmer for five minutes, stirring. This increases the bio-availability of the healing compounds. Remove from heat and stir in oil (and peanut butter if using) until well blended.

Let cool for 10 minutes and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator or freezer. Mix a small amount with your dog’s meal or bake into treats.

We add golden paste to our soups and stews, and sautes that have Indian and African flavors. Or add to eggs to brighten their color and add flavor.