The idea of preparing this detox vegetable puree came from a recipe I read on a Weight Watchers forum, which I then adapted. The recipe originally called for broth cubes, which I omitted, as I only use them sporadically due to their high salt and preservative content, which is not ideal for detox. Plus, vegetables already have their own flavor, why alter it, especially when aiming to detoxify?
So, all this to say, I used Indian spices to add a touch more flavor. The vegetables I used for this detox vegetable puree are all rich in vitamins and fiber, help to lower cholesterol, are diuretic, and excellent for cleansing the intestines. I could go on, as these four ingredients have numerous properties.
Not to mention the spices: they’re not mandatory, this puree will offer its benefits even without the Indian spices I used or with just a few of them. However, it remains that especially turmeric is well-known for improving stomach and intestinal function and facilitating the elimination of excess fat. In short, this is a mix of perfect ingredients for the diet, especially after overindulging during the holidays, but considering how delicious the result is… well, you can hardly call it a diet!
Other good and light soups:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 3
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
As an alternative to oriental spices, you can use any type to your liking and taste.
- 1 onion
- 10 oz potatoes
- 2 carrots
- 1 leek
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground paprika
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- as needed water
- as needed salt
- Points per serving = 2 WW points
Tools
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Potato peeler
- Hand blender
Preparation
First, prepare the vegetables: peel the onion, potatoes, and carrots and cut everything into pieces. For the leek, make sure to use the green part as well: remove only the toughest ends, wash well between the layers (often a lot of dirt hides there), and slice it.
Put the vegetables in a large pot and add the spices. Pour water until it almost covers the vegetables but without fully immersing them.
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a minimum, cover, and let it simmer for about 40 minutes or an hour, until the vegetables are well cooked.
With an immersion blender, puree the vegetables until smooth. If the puree is too thick, add a little water. You can now also add a bit of salt to taste, but avoid adding too much to preserve the natural flavor of the ingredients and because too much salt certainly doesn’t help with detox.
And here’s a detox vegetable puree post-binge that certainly won’t envy the more caloric veloutés! It’s truly delicious: it was very well received here at home! I had set aside some carrot and leek slices before using the hand blender to decorate the dish:
With these colors, it’s ideal for brightening up winter days and warming up with taste and lightness! Serve it with a sprinkle of turmeric or spicy chili pepper for that extra touch of flavor…
Bon appetit to everyone!
by Giovanna Buono
Conservation and Notes
You can prepare this vegetable puree in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it, and it will last at least 4 months.
Additionally, if you want to have a full detox day, I leave you the guidelines on what to eat and what to avoid: Detox Menu Post-Binge. For those who want to detox with taste!
Can I use other vegetables?
Of course you can, but I suggest making it exactly like this and tasting it. Often I get asked how to replace leek, in this case, add two more onions!
Of course you can, but I suggest making it exactly like this and tasting it. Often I get asked how to replace leek, in this case, add two more onions!
Can I use other spices?
Of course you can, choose them to your taste. But in my opinion, you’ll miss out on the unique flavor of this puree…
Of course you can, choose them to your taste. But in my opinion, you’ll miss out on the unique flavor of this puree…
Which protein can I use for a complete dish?
The answer is simple: cooked legumes added to the pot along with the vegetables.
The answer is simple: cooked legumes added to the pot along with the vegetables.
