A hearty, soothing bowl of soup is one of life’s best comfort food meals. We can’t help but swoon over this one made with fiber-filled lentils and fresh vegetables. Our nutritious recipe for Creamy Tomato Lentil, Spinach, and Potato Soup comes together quickly if you have a slow cooker or Instant Pot. This soup has prebiotic fiber, magnesium from lentils and spinach, vitamin C and potassium from potatoes and spinach, and antioxidants from spices and all the veggies. We hope you love this hearty bowl as much as we do, all made healthier with Lifeway Oat non-dairy cultured oat milk.
Not Just Oat Milk: Cultured Oat Milk Benefits to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion. Studies have also shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school-age years. In addition, a combination of fiber and probiotics is even more beneficial for the gut, immune system, and for brain health due to the way this combination strengthens the microbiome, the powerhouse system of your entire health. This is where Lifeway Oat is so beneficial since it is an organic, cultured oat milk beyond just another standard oat milk. Lifeway Oat contains both fiber and probiotics to help support a healthier body and brain, which means an overall healthier you.
Prebiotics + Probiotics = A Healthier You
Prebiotics are non-living, non-digestible carbohydrates naturally found in a variety of fiber-rich plant foods. Your body actually can’t digest prebiotics, so they’re what probiotics feed off of to remain actively working in your digestive system. They help the digestive system by promoting the growth of good bacteria. Prebiotics and probiotics work together in balance to make sure our digestive system stays on track and regular. Research has found that consuming a variety of prebiotic and probiotic food sources may improve your body’s natural functions, including both your immune and digestive systems.
Ingredients
- 2 cans no-salt-added fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1/2 cup red lentils
- 4 Yukon-gold potatoes, chopped up into 1-inch cubes
- 1/8 tsp. sea salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 fresh garlic clove, diced finely
- 1/2 a white or yellow onion, diced finely
- 2 cups no-salt-added vegetable broth (or low-sodium veggie broth)
- 2 cups loose-leaf spinach
- 1 cup
- Juice of a fresh lemon
- Garnish ideas: fresh basil leaves, fresh tomatoes, or whatever else you like.
Directions
- Add all the ingredients except the fresh spinach, Lifeway Oat, and lemon juice into a slow-cooker or Instant Pot and cook for 2-3 hours on high in a slow-cooker or 2-3 hours in an Instant Pot on the slow-cook mode for the best flavor (not the pressure-cooking mode).
- Add the fresh spinach and Lifeway Oat, then cook for 30 more minutes.
- Add the juice of a lemon to help bring out the flavors, then garnish with a few fresh basil leaves or some fresh tomatoes.
- Enjoy!