Red Bell Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup- for Adrenal Fatigue
I was greatly inspired by one of my favorite culinary teachers, Chef Rich at the Natural Gourmet Institute, who created this recipe pairing two very unlikely vegetables… red bell peppers and sweet potato!
The sweet mediterranean flavors are addictive while possessing exactly what I was looking for: nutrients to sooth my adrenals!
I don’t know about you, but I fall victim of chronic stress. I tend to obsess and overthink things. Things like: buying the perfect organic shampoo, making a “to do” list with perfect handwriting, worrying about things that are out of my control, and overly empathizing with people by taking on their stress!
These are all qualities that I am very thankful to have but they leave me vulnerable. And that vulnerability lays in my adrenal glands.
Adrenal glands produce adrenaline which is necessary for survival. It is the fight or flight organ that keeps you alive on a daily basis. Adrenaline makes you take your hand off of a burning hot pot or slamming your breaks to prevent a car accident. This is a very important function to keep you alive!
But your glands need a break! If you find yourself worrying about things often, making sure everything around you is perfect, worrying about what others think of you, etc. This also uses adrenaline and now your glands are overworked or “fatigued”.
Adrenal fatigue is a chronic condition, meaning it happens over a long period of time and your body is being depleted to continue this production of adrenaline all-day-long!
So let’s sooth our adrenal glands with this soup!
This soup contains sweet potato which is a root vegetable. Root vegetables are very soothing for the “root” of your digestive system. You adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys which are filters of everything you eat. So sweet potatoes will sooth and detox your filtering organs while replenishing them with potassium and vitamin A.
The red bell peppers contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A & C which help restore your gland’s function. The high level of potassium helps keep your sodium:potassium ratio in check, which can be difficult in our western lifestyle.
Coconut milk offers essential fats that are super easy for the body to digest and it is used to repair organs that are damaged and/or overworked. It too includes magnesium which combats stress and aids in circulation!
Lets curl up on the couch, relax, and sip on this soothing healing soup!
Preheat oven: 400
Serves: 4-6
1 Large Sweet Potato, large dice
1 Onion, large dice
EVOO
S/P
2 Celery Stalks, chopped
2 Carrots, chopped
3 Garlic cloves, minced
4 Red Bell Peppers, chard
6 cups Vegetable Stock
1 cup Coconut Milk
Handful of Basil
On an open flame, on the stove, blister the bell peppers. Set aside in a gown with kitchen cloth on top to cool. Once cool, peel off chard skin and roughly chop pepper. (If you have an electric stove, put in oven on broil until skin wrinkles).
On a baking sheet, drizzle chopped onion and sweet potato with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in oven 25-30 mins or until tender.
In a pot, saute carrot, celery, and garlic. Then add sweet potato, onion, and pepper. Add vegetable stock and coconut milk. Simmer for 15mins.
Then with either an immersion blender, blender, or Vitamix and puree soup until smooth. Serve and garnish with basil!
Megan Magill 