Feeling a little under the weather or in need of a good immune-boost for cold and flu season? This is my go-to healing bowl full of healthy ingredients like mushrooms, miso, chicken broth and veggies.

I feel like the title of this recipe needs a little bit of explaining. While it certainly is my go-to healing bowl, I also admittedly eat this when I’m not feeling sick. Why? Because it reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world: Mendocino.

Our absolute favorite restaurant in Mendocino is Mendocino Cafe. I order the healing bowl every time we visit Mendocino Cafe and since my first time trying it I knew it was something I had to recreate at home.

Here’s What You Need:

• vegetables – yellow onion, garlic cloves, shiitake mushrooms, and baby bok choy.
• rice noodles – I like Lotus Organic Brown Rice Noodles.
• chicken breast – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• fresh ginger
• chicken or vegetable stock – I recommend using low sodium stock so you can control how salty the end result is.
• red miso paste – has a deep umami flavor. If needed, you can substitute for yellow miso but I highly recommend using red miso.
• rice wine vinegar
• sesame oil
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Healing Ingredients

This soup isn’t called a healing bowl for nothing… it’s packed with powerhouse ingredients that do indeed heal and protect.

Mushrooms – Shiitake mushrooms are known to support immune function and are high in vitamins B and D.

Miso – Miso is fermented soybean paste and its a powerful probiotic supporting gut health. Make sure you buy a quality organic miso paste.

Ginger – Ginger is anti-inflammatory and is an antioxidant. It can help with nausea, indigestion and menstrual cramps but has also been shown to improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Garlic – Garlic is rich in important vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and manganese. It can help reduce the severity of your sickness and is loaded with antioxidants.

How to Make a Healing Bowl

STEP 1: Start by sautéing the onions, garlic and ginger in a large pot with olive oil over medium heat.

STEP 2: Add the mushrooms and stock and bring to a boil before lowering to a simmer. Add the chicken breast and simmer for 10 minutes.

STEP 3: After the chicken has cooked for 10 minutes, use tongs to remove the chicken and set aside to cool. Let the soup simmer for an additional 50 minutes. Don’t skip this step! This is really what infuses that umami flavor and helps you get the benefits from the mushrooms.

STEP 4: Once the chicken is cool enough to cut, slice into small pieces and add back into the broth. Add int he bok choy and continue cooking until the 50 minute timer is up.

STEP 5: In a small bowl, combine the miso paste, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of the soup broth. Stir until well combined.

STEP 6: Add the miso slurry into the soup and stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste and cook for another 5 minutes.

STEP 7: Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Add noodles to serving bowls and top with the healing broth and veggies.

Storing Leftover Soup

Store noodles separately from the broth in airtight containers. Leftovers will last up to one week when stored in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to enjoy, combine the noodles and broth and heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Print

My Go-To Healing Bowl

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 inch knob of ginger, peeled and minced
• 2 cups shitake mushrooms, chop off ends but keep stems and caps
• 12 cups chicken/vegetable stock
• 1 8-10 oz chicken breast
• 4 heads baby bok choy
• 2 tbsp red miso paste
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 packages of rice noodles (I like Lotus Organic Brown Rice Noodles)

1.  In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add onions, garlic and ginger and saute for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add mushrooms and stock and bring to a boil before lowering to a simmer.
4. Add chicken breast and set a timer for 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes use tongs to remove the chicken and allow it to cool.
6. Let soup simmer for 50 minutes.
7. Once chicken is cool enough to cut, slice into small pieces and add back into broth.
8. Add in bok choy and continue cooking until timer is up.
9. In a small bowl combine, miso paste, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and 1 tbsp of soup broth. Stir until well combined.
10. Add miso slurry into soup and stir until well-combined. Add salt and pepper. Cook for 5 more minutes.
11. Meanwhile cook the noodles according to package instruction.
12. Add noodles to bowls and top with soup.
13. Will keep for up to 1 week in refrigerator.

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