Healthy Chicken Soup {No Noodles} (2024)

FAQs

What can you replace noodles with in soup? ›

If you cook them or partially cook them beforehand they will soak up less liquid. Personally I like that they soak up the liquid as it's more flavorful than water. You can just add more liquid than called for in the recipe if you want more liquid. You add the noodles that are already cooked to the hot soup.

Chicken is full of protein that helps support the immune system. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, which boost immunity and help regulate digestion.

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is an excellent pasta substitute.

Not only does acid brighten your soup, but also balance the flavor including the saltiness that comes from the broth (store-bought chicken broth and stock, or bouillon, are typically high in sodium).

Seasoning the Soup: If you feel the soup is missing some zing, add a bit more salt. You can also add a pop of flavor with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a dash of fish sauce (we use this trick for store-bought stocks and broths often) or Worcestershire sauce.

While adding vinegar won't reduce the amount of sodium in the pot, the sharp tang of this condiment can help equal out the salty flavor on your tastebuds, masking the brininess of an oversalted soup and making it easier to eat.

Known to all, chicken is considered to be a great source of protein and amino acids that are really good for the growth of muscles and other tissues. Hence, a bowl of chicken soup can be a great addition in your daily diet.

Chicken broth is also a rich source of minerals, including iron. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that supplies oxygen to muscles. Your body also needs iron to produce certain hormones.

Do doctors recommend chicken soup? ›

Chicken soup has long been used as a home remedy for cold and flu. Some scientific evidence indicates that the soup could be anti-inflammatory. Though research is scant, experts say chicken soup is worth a try when you're sick.

If you're going for a classic chicken noodle vibe, an onion or two (skin-on for extra rich color), a few coarsely chopped carrots, a couple celery stalks (also coarsely chopped), and a bisected head of garlic will do the trick, especially if you include a tablespoon of peppercorns and few sprigs of dill.

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Bring lots of water to boil as you would usually cook pasta. Add salt (I use about 1TBSP) and baking soda. Add pasta and cook about 2 minutes longer than what the package says. Drain and use in any recipes in place of Chinese noodles.

You could try grains like couscous, quinoa and barley to introduce a new flavour to your favourite dishes. Barley and quinoa are both low-GI foods, and quinoa is also a source of protein and fibre, and works particularly well in salads.

"A healthy ramen can be made from whole grain or whole wheat flour," Catherine Gervacio, RDN and nutrition writer for Living. Fit, tells Eat This, Not That! "These provide more fiber and nutrients compared to refined flour noodles.

The most logical approach is: To make noodle soup, add noodles to soup. In other words, cook the noodles in the broth itself, then ladle the whole shebang into a bowl and serve. Not only does this sidestep another dirty pot, but it infuses the noodles with flavor.