Warm up and chill out with a big bowl of this nourishing Kale Soup with Basmati Rice & Pumpkin Seed Pesto (Gluten-Free, Low FODMAP), and read my review of the 21-Day Tummy Cookbook for IBS.

Big Tex asked me a question the other day. “Mom. What was the best Christmas present you ever got as a kid?”

Of course, I had to think about it for a while and came up with a few answers, none of which particularly impressed him, but they did get me thinking about my favorite treasured gifts as a child.

The first thing that came to mind was a set of building blocks. They were nothing fancy, made out of plain, blonde wood, but I remember getting those blocks, playing with them, then running down the stairs holding them, tripping, and tumbling over backward, roly-poly style, until I landed at the bottom of the stairs, unscathed. Me and my blocks.

I also remember loving getting board games as gifts. Whoozit, Clue and Mastermind mainly come to mind. But what I really looked forward to was getting new books for Christmas.

Brighty of the Grand Canyon…all of the Little House books…Agatha Christie mysteries…Little Women….books by Judy Blume and Danielle Steele….and cookbooks when I got older!

Flash forward to today, and I still LOVE the thrill of getting {and giving} new books for Christmas, which all leads me to this delicious cookbook, the 21-Day Tummy Diet Cookbook: 150 All-New Recipes That Shrink, Soothe, and Satisfy, by Liz Vaccariello, along with Kate Scarlata, RD.

I shared a little bit about the book in my last post, and today, I want to give you a few more delicious reasons that I think you would love getting a copy of this yourself as a holiday present!

21-Day Tummy Diet Cookbook

+ Includes an introduction to the latest research on inflammation, microbial imbalance, and the potential links between weight gain and digestive issues. FYI, I am SO interested in this area of research. If you are too, here’s a good {technical} read–>Role of the gut microbiota in health and chronic gastrointestinal disease: understanding a hidden metabolic organ.

+ Provides lists of “Belly Buddies” {belly-friendly foods} to store in your kitchen, including high-fiber antioxidant-rich vegetables, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, and more.

+ Offers tips for creating your own 21-day Personal Diet Plan for weight loss and getting your digestive health back on track.

+ Contains 150 delicious (and mostly simple) recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert. Besides this Kale and Basmati Soup with Pumpkin Seed Pesto and the Cherry Tomato and Forbidden Rice Salad, I shared with you last week, how about Savory Seeded Almond Breakfast Shortbread? Or maybe Grilled Chicken, Honeydew, and Avocado Salad? Oh, and then there’s Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts and Parmesan and the most decadent-looking Espresso Pudding Cake.

+Tempeted??? Get the recipe for Kale & Basmati Soup with Pumpkin Seed Pesto belowand purchase your copy of the 21-Day Tummy Diet Cookbook on Amazon!

Kale and Basmati Soup with Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Kale & Basmati Soup w/ Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Warm up and chill out with a big bowl of this nourishing Kale and Basmati Soup with Pumpkin Seed Pesto {Gluten-free, vegetarian option, low FODMAP}.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth* {I used “No Chicken” Vegetable Broth}
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup quick cooking brown basmati rice**
  • 4 large carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 package {16 ounces} frozen chopped kale, thawed
  • 1/4 cup hulled pumpkin seeds {pepitas}, toasted
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, combine the broth, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and 2 cups of the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the rice, carrots, and kale and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the rice and kale are very tender.
  • Meanwhile, in a small heavy skillet, heat the pumpkin seeds for 2 minutes, or until they begin to pop. Transfer to a mini food processor and add the basil, cheese, and the remaining 1/4 cup of water. Puree until smooth. Scrape the pesto into a small bowl.
  • Stir the lemon juice into the soup. Each serving of soup gets 2 tablespoons pesto that should be stirred in before eating.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from Reader’s Digest. Copyright © 2014 by the Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
*If you’re following a low FODMAP diet, use your own homemade broth without onions or garlic, OR look for a low FODMAP bouillon or concentrate option such as Savory Choice.
**I couldn’t find any quick cooking Basmati rice so I used 1 cup of pre-cooked brown rice instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 1510mg | Potassium: 605mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 11825IU | Vitamin C: 44.7mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 1.9mg
EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Course Entree, Soup
Cuisine American, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low FODMAP, Mediterranean
Keyword healthy soup recipes, low fodmap soup
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Did you make this recipe?I’d love a 5-star review and rating if you liked this recipe! Any questions about the recipe or ingredients? Please let me know! Your rating and comments are so appreciated as they help me understand how I can serve you best. Thank you!

This soup is the perfect example of what happens when multiple flavors {soup + lemon juice + pesto} blend magically together to give you the most fantastic taste. Yes. You MUST eat them all together!

The magnesium-rich Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Parmesan Cheese adds a creamy, delicious decadence to this Kale and Basmati Soup!

Note: I received a free copy of the 21-Day Tummy Cookbook to review and share with my readers and clients. I was not compensated to write this post. As always, my reviews and opinions are 100% my own.

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