This wonderful summer soup-cum-salad combines healing benefits of home-made kefir with cooling properties cucumber. In Poland this soup is made with sour cream. I made a healthier version that is just as tasty.
Like yogurt and other cultured and fermented products, kefir is full of friendly bacteria that help improve digestion. The fermentation process also changes some of the protein structures in the raw milk making it much more to digestible. People who normally cannot tolerate milk do quite well when drinking kefir. Regular consumption of kefir can help relieve many digestive disorders since kefir promotes healthy bowel movement, reduces flatulence and bloating. It cleanses and nourishes the whole body, strengthens immune system and helps restore inner balance. You should drink it often for optimal health and longevity.
Cucumbers are one of the best cooling foods. They are rich in minerals. Recent research shows that cucumbers contain powerful antioxidants and can help prevent inflammation. Compounds called cucurbitacins may prevent proliferation of cancer cells within the body. Another type of cancer- fighting compounds found in cucumbers are the lignans. Bacteria in our digestive tract converts plant lignans into enterolignans that have the ability to bind onto estrogen receptors and can have both pro-estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects. High consumption of plant lignans is associated with reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the uterus, and prostate cancer.
Dill is an amazing herb that comes with many health benefits. It contains phytonutrients that may help fight cancer, prevent anti-oxidative stress, improve digestion and prevent bacterial overgrowth.
Chives and garlic also have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. They help the body to produce glutathione - a natural anti-oxidant that has the potential to identify and eliminate toxins and other cancer-causing agents.
So you see, this soup will not only keep you cool on a hot summer day, it will help you stay healthy.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cucumbers
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 Tbsp freshly pressed lemon juice
- 2 tsp virgin olive oil
- 2 cups home-made kefir
- 2 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 Tbsp chives, chopped
- 1/3 tsp Celtic sea salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed pepper - I used pink peppercorns
Method:
- Wash and peel cucumbers. Slice them into thin slices and set aside.
- Using a blender whiz kefir, lemon juice, and salt. Pour the kefir soup base into a bowl. Add herbs, mix well. Add sliced cucumbers and place the bowl in a fridge. Chill well.
- Portion out the chilled soup into soup bowls, garnish with crushed peppercorns, drizzle a little olive oil over it and enjoy in good company on a hot summer day!
Tip: In Poland housewives usually marinade the cucumbers in salt for a few minutes and discard the liquid that is normally produced by the cucumbers in salt. I prefer the crunch and do not soften the cucumbers. I also prefer all the water and salt, and all the nutrients, to stay in the soup. Also, remember that you are making a soup not a sauce or dip. It should be rather liquid and well chilled to be truly refreshing.
In radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique
Dominique Allmon©2014
*Information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.