Potato Leek Soup With Fennel Seeds & Red Pepper Flakes

CONSTITUTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS

If "fresh bright green" had a taste, it would be Potato Leek Soup with Fennel Seeds. Smooth, rich and refined, this creamy soup is only made more enticing by the spicy sizzle of red pepper flakes.

Dairy-Free Creamy Soup

Cream based soups are a decadent dish that frequently leave upset tummies- not so in this case. Blended potatoes with just the right amount of sunflower oil create a base that is just as smooth and nourishing as those filled with heavy cream. This lighter style soup will have you feeling calm, nourished, and (here's the kicker...) gas free!

Easy to Digest for All

Potatoes, un-remedied by spices and cooking, cause gas and weight gain. They are naturally astringent, a unique quality among starches. Potatoes are also soothing and demulcent, making them useful for cooling inflammation in the GI tract. Potatoes alone can provoke Vata because of their astringency. Making a creamy soup (Vata's most beloved preparation) and adding warm spices like fennel helps Vata feel calm and symptom free.

Sweet and stimulating, fennel possesses a unique combination of warming and cooling qualities that stimulate the appetite before meals and facilitate digestion afterward. Ate a little too much and feel bloated? Was the food a tad too spicy? Fennel relieves gas and bloating; it also functions to reduce burping, acid reflux, and alleviate nausea and indigestion. Fennel improves the digestive fire (agni) by stimulating blood flow to the stomach.

Improved Circulation

Feel warm and relaxed thanks to Potato Leek Soups spice mixture. Pungent red and black peppers stimulate the heart to improve circulation via vasodilation. They destroy mucous in the digestive tract and sinuses. Black pepper is a carminative (expels gas) and warms cold Vata digestion. Red pepper flakes take the heat to a whole new level- they are very hot and pungent! Alone, they are too intense for most Vata and Pitta people. However, combined with cool potatoes and fennel, red pepper adds welcome heat and excitement! If you find red pepper flakes to cause you to sweat profusely or feel jittery, use black pepper and ginger instead.

Relaxed Muscles

The very nature of soup is to give soothing relaxation to your mind, muscles, and digestion. The addition of fennel intensifies this effect. Like many aromatic herbs, fennel is effective in relaxing smooth muscle spasms. It specifically relieves bronchial spasms in the lungs, colic in the GI tract and uterine cramping, thereby helping with diverse conditions from asthma to menstrual cramps. Simply adding it to your food can bring sweet relief, making Potato Leek Soup a diverse remedy.

Discovered by Chef Mark Reinfled of Blossoming Lotus, HI (https://www.blossominglotus.com)
Reported by Alana Greenberg, an Ayurvedic Student from Santa Fe, NM.Leave a Comment / Question

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