This enoki mushroom soup is super easy to make and can be adapted with other veggies you have in your fridge.

Fun fact about enoki mushrooms: they contain a particular beta-glucan called Flammulin (1).

Beta-glucans in general, are a polysaccharide compound found in mushrooms and are the primary medicinal constituent that give mushrooms, and particularly medicinal mushrooms, their immune-benefitting reputation(2).

Some of the many benefits of these beta-glucans include(2):

The enoki are great to use in these Asian-style soups because of their shape – they act as a nutritious alternative to white carbohydrate-rich rice noodles. Plus, they are delicious!

Enoki mushroom soup recipe

Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 large carrot chopped
• 1 red onion chopped
• 1/2 clove garlic finely diced (or 1 clove it you like it strong like me)
• 1 packet of enoki mushrooms (cut at the base)
• 4 large regular mushrooms sliced thickly
• 1 cup of sliced cabbage
• 1-2 tbsp Organic tamari sauce
• 1/2 tsp vegetable stock powder
• 2 tbsp vegetable or bone broth powder
• Optional: chilli flakes to taste and add extra warmth

Method:

1. In a medium sized pot, sauté on medium heat, the onion with the garlic until well cooked
2. Add in carrots and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes
3. Add in the sliced cabbage and enoki mushrooms until they begin to brown
4. Add around 3 cups of boiling water – or more if desired
5. Add tamari sauce, chili, stock powder and broth powder
6. Allow the soup to simmer for a few minutes but as long as the veggies are cooked through then it is good to go
7. Add optional protein: tempeh, tofu or cooked chicken

Enjoy!

References

1. Rop, O., Mlcek, J., & Jurikova, T. (2009, November). Beta-glucans in higher fungi and their health effects. Nutrition Reviews. Nutr Rev. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00230.x

Guggenheim, A. G., Wright, K. M., & Zwickey, H. L. (2014). Immune modulation from five major mushrooms: Application to integrative oncology. Integrative Medicine (Boulder). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684115/