Slimming soups

From restorative broth to creamy chicken soup, these hearty and healthy bowls are just what you need on a cold winter’s eve

- KEIRON GEORGE

TIP

Wonton/spring roll wrappers can be found in most supermarkets, but if you can’t find any, use the mixture as meatballs instead

TIP

This soup will freeze well, so it’s great for batch cooking

Ultimate cream of chicken soup

Serves 4

An indulgent soup that’s lighter on the waistline than you might think

You will need

• ½tbsp oil

• 500g skinless boneless chicken thighs

• 1 small onion, roughly chopped

• 350g potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

• 350g cauliflower, roughly chopped

• 1 sprig thyme

• 1ltr chicken stock

• 75ml creme fraiche

• 175ml semi-skimmed milk

For the topping:

• 150g cauliflower florets, sliced to ¾-1cm thick

• 1tbsp breadcrumbs

• 20g pancetta slices

How to do it

1 Heat the oil in a pan and brown the chicken on both sides; set aside. Add the onion, potato and cauliflower to the pan. Turn down the heat and mix well. Cover and sweat for 10 mins.

2 Add the thyme, stock and chicken to the pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins or until the veg is tender and the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan, then blitz the soup with a stick blender and season well. Shred the chicken and add the meat back to the pan along with the creme fraiche and milk, and heat through.