Hello Friends, consider this post my public service announcement for the year.  Detox Soup is my New Year’s Day present to you.  For anyone who is planning to imbibe on 31st December, a large bowl of detox soup should set us on the path to recovery on 1 January!

I found the recipe for Detox Soup in 365 Good Reasons to Sit Down and Eat by Stephane Reynaud which is an excellent book on (mostly) French cooking.  It was my choice for our Tasty Reads Cookbook Club for November and this is both the first recipe in the book and the first recipe I made from it.

Since then, I have made this soup a number of times, it has become my go-to meal for when I want something quick, easy and life-affirming or when I want to feel virtuous.  When I am feeling not so virtuous, it goes very well with some grilled cheese on crusty bread!  I don’t really believe in “detoxing” but eating this soup does make me feel like I am doing something positive for myself.

Whether or not you use the Detox Soup to ease your aching head and over worked liver or to add a moment of positive self care into the first day of the new year, can I suggest you make some early and keep it in the fridge for the first?  It will be there when you need it the most!

Or it can add  a moment of positive self-care into the first day of the new year.

I have already made my batch although we currently have a sick dog so I doubt I will be drinking on NYE in case I need to make (another) trip to the emergency vet.  🙁

The Recipe – Detox Soup

Complete with a picture of someone looking very hungover made from the ingredients!

Those of you with an eagle eye may have noticed that there is some sliced fennel in my soup which is not in the recipe.  The second time I made this soup I had half a fennel in the fridge that needed using so I sliced it up and added it into the pot.  I really liked the flavour it brought so I add it in all the time now.  I also use vegetable stock instead of water in my soup.

This also explains why I have garnished my soup with a fennel frond and not the celery leaves in the original picture.  Speaking of which…I think I have done not too bad a  job of replicating that picture…

If the hair of the dog is more your bag, 1 January is Bloody Mary Day so you can get your vodka on with one of my favourite Bloody Mary recipes here.

I think for most of us, 2021 was not the remedy to 2020 that we were all hoping for.  Lord only knows what 2022 has in store for us!  Whatever it brings, I hope you and your loved ones stay safe, healthy and have a wonderful year!