So, as of today I am starting Whole30 with a group of people here in Germany. Basically, it’s Paleo without any sugars (no honey or maple syrup) for 30 days straight. Diets like this always make me giggle a little bit. I mean, basically what you are telling me is to eat REAL food?
Eat food and not food products – If it comes in a bag, box or can, it is highly processed, avoid it. -Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan is one of my favorite authors. The quote above is from his book Food Rules. I highly recommend reading his books, and if you are not a big reader you can always watch Food Inc. Here is a link to watch it for free: Food Inc.
A few years back I actually got to go to Poly Face Farm and meet the owner Joel Salatin, tour the farm and even slaughter chickens. Believe me, I took no pleasure in killing a chicken-in fact I apologized to my chicken before I slit it’s throat, but it did resonate a deeper respect for my food, where it comes from and what it takes to get that final product.
When I was a kid I used to think that there were food products that you had to buy in a grocery store. Mayonnaise, salad dressings, cheese, ect. I imagined these giant steel factories with special equipment and robots who did all the work (imagine the opening scene to Edward Scissor-Hands). There was no way you could make these things yourself. I specifically remember the first instance of watching someone make whipped cream by hand. I was 13 and my best friends mother was making it for a pumpkin pie. I was so shocked that with those three basic ingredients she made something so…simply magnificent. Cream, sugar and vanilla. I had only had Cool Whip and Redi-Whip. Obviously, I had not lived until that moment.
Not to condone that if you make your own whipped cream that it is healthy by any way, shape or form. I just believe that when you make your own food, it will always be better. Any home made meal will have a special ingredient in it that you can never buy. Heart.
So let’s get on to the recipe! This soup is stupid simple to make. Technically, you can make it even easier by buying a whole roasted chicken from the grocery store. Pull the meat off and make a roasted chicken stock from the carcass.
Chicken & Avocado Soup
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 tablespoons paleo cooking oil (I use bacon fat)
- 2 clove garlic
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeds and ribs removed
- 2 ripe avocados, preferably Haas, skin and pit removed
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, plus more to taste (I used the Chipotle Tabasco-SO GOOD!)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3), cut into approximately 1 1/2-by-1/4-by-1/4-inch strips
- 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
- 5-7 radishes, thinly sliced
Method:
- In a blender, combine the garlic, jalapeño, avocados, lime juice, Tabasco, 1 1/2 cups of the water, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, cumin and the pepper. Puree until smooth.
- Heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in the pot over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer. Stir the chicken into the pot; cook until just done, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the avocado puree. Heat through, about 2 minutes. Serve the soup topped with chopped cilantro and radishes.
The Primitive Palate 
Made this tonight, really delicious 😀