Clara’s Favorite Five Onion Soup

I lucked out – my daughter loves onions. In fact, this onion soup is her second most requested soup besides miso.

The onion family is large and ranges in pungency and taste from delicate scallions to garlic’s bold presence. The onion family is great for many health issues from heart disease, to clearing phlegm from allergies and colds to boosting the digestive system.

This recipes makes excellent use of several types of onions and is quite simple to vary.  In colder months, I may use beef broth for a richer base. It’s also lovely with whole pearl onions added in for more variety and flavor. Use with the cream or opt out if you have a lot of mucus and congestion.

Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp olive oil or butter

• 2 cups yellow onion peeled and finely chopped

• 2 large leeks, whites only cleaned and finely chopped

• 1/2 cup shallots peeled and finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic minced

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• 1/2 cup dry white wine

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 tsp thyme

• 3 scallions cleaned and trimmed

• 1/2 cup heavy cream optional-leave out if you have a lot of phlegm

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large stock pot, melt butter or heat oil. Add in onions, leeks and shallots. Sauté, covered over low heat until vegetables are tender about 20 minutes. Be careful to not burn or caramelize the onions. Add in stock, wine, bay leaf and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove bay leaf. For a creamy soup, use immersion blender or blender to purée the onions. Be careful as the liquid is hot.

Recipe Notes

Healing benefits: onions aid circulation, clear phlegm and benefit the heart - that's just the start.

Energetics: Warming, Qi building, damp draining, invigorating. Aids digestion, breaks up phlegm and accumulations, clears the sinuses, tonifies the Lungs, Stomach and Spleen.

Here’s to your healing!

April