Name: Golden Glow Soup with Crispy Chickpeas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 1 onion, cut into quarters; 2 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half; 1 head cauliflower, chopped into florets; 2 carrots, diced; 2 parsnips, diced; 2 tablespoons coconut oil; Salt and pepper; 2 cups vegetable broth; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/4 cup coconut milk; 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 3 tablespoons ghee or butter; Salt; 1/2-1 teaspoon paprika

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During the fall and winter months, I often crave all things warm and cozy, like this Golden Glow Soup with Crispy Chickpeas.

You may be wondering where the gorgeous golden glow of the soup comes from. Turmeric is the star of the show here and makes this soup not only delicious, but gives it an extra boost of healing properties! There are over 16,000 published studies on the healing benefits of turmeric (curcumin).

What are the health benefits of turmeric?

Reduces inflammation
Relieves pain
Supports the body’s detoxification process
Boosts mood
Loaded with antioxidant properties
Heals and soothes skin conditions

The soup itself is creamy, delicious, and oh so good for you. To make it even more craveworthy, I decided to top it with my new snack obsession…crispy chickpeas. They’re crispy, salty, and add packed with protein and fiber.

Why do you need these crispy chickpeas in your life?

They’re crispy
Salty and delicious
Packed with protein and fiber
So versatile –‌ Great for snacking or topping on salad, soups, or bowls

How to make chickpeas crispy:

Rinse and drain one can of chickpeas
Pat chickpeas dry with a towel and remove any skins that fall off
Melt butter or ghee in a large skillet over high-heat
Add chickpeas and cook for 10 minutes until golden and crispy
*Note: You may want to cover the skillet with a splatter screen as the chickpeas will pop while frying
Pour chickpeas into a bowl and immediately season with salt and desired seasonings

Golden Glow Soup Ingredients and Substitutions

This soup is a macro-balanced meal that’s filled with protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrates, which means it will keep you full and balance your blood sugar. Turmeric provides a variety of healing benefits and crispy chickpeas add the perfect crunch.

Onion and Garlic –‌ Allium vegetables, like onion and garlic, contain antioxidants that fight inflammation and can decrease the risk of cancer (1). Garlic also has powerful antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties (2).
Cauliflower –‌ This versatile cruciferous veggie is high in fiber, antioxidants, and choline, an essential nutrient (3) many people are deficient in. It also gives this soup its creamy texture.
Carrots and Parsnips – Root veggies that provide rich flavor and nutrients.
Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is my cooking fat of choice here. It contains healthy fatty acids and is known to have antimicrobial effects that can ward off harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi (4). It’s also a stable fat that can be used to cook at high temperatures like roasting the vegetables in this soup. Feel free to substitute with another high temperate fat such as ghee or butter.
Vegetable Broth – Full of vitamins and minerals, vegetable broth serves as the base for this soup. Feel free to use bone broth in place of vegetable broth if you aren’t on a vegan diet. Bone broth will provide added gut-healing benefits thanks to the collagen.
Turmeric and Cumin – Turmeric is powerfully healing and anti-inflammatory (5). Cumin adds a warm spiced flavor to this soup. It is also beneficial for stimulating the digestive system, relieving constipation, and improving IBS symptoms (6).
Coconut Milk – Provides a luscious, creamy texture without any added dairy.

How to Make Golden Glow Soup

Aside from chopping and roasting all the veggies, this soup is quick and very simple to make! Pro Tip: Chop and roast your veggies ahead of time to make this soup even easier!

Roast the vegetables tossed in coconut oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Simmer the vegetables, broth, turmeric, and cumin in a pot.
Stir in the coconut milk.
Blend the soup.
Prep the chickpeas.
Taste for seasoning and garnish with crispy chickpeas, cilantro, green onions, hemp seeds, and/or pumpkin seeds.

Can you Freeze Golden Glow Soup?

Yes, this healing soup recipe is perfect for meal prep! I like to make a double batch and store leftovers in the freezer. Store the soup in a freezer-safe container like wide-mouth Mason Jars or Weck Jars. To reheat, microwave one serving for about 4 minutes, stirring halfway through, or simmer on the stove over medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Blending Tips

Make sure your vegetables are cooked through and fork-tender. This step will ensure a creamy, blended soup!
Choose your blending device. An immersion blender or high-speed blender works great. I prefer using a stick blender to keep this a one-pot meal.
If using a high-speed blender, leave the top portion of your blender open for the steam to escape. Blending hot ingredients can cause them to expand and add pressure, popping open the lid. Hint: I may or may not know this from experience!