Jamaican Sweet Potato and Plantain Soup

I don't have a camera but I managed to take this pic with my webcam.

I looooooooove this soup, it's super tasty and spicy. What I find original is the taste of ginger combined with a little sour taste brought by the lime. Plus ripe plantain and sweet potato add a little sweetness in it all you know...

I took a few plantain chips for decoration and voilà! As for the healthy goodies you will get from the ingredients, see at the bottom.

 Ingredients:

    ·         1 tablespoon canola oil

    ·         1 red onion, chopped

    ·         1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger

    ·         2 garlic cloves, minced

    ·         4 cups vegetarian broth

    ·         2 cups water

    ·         2 yellow medium plantains with dark spots, peeled and cut into chunks

    ·         3 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled, and cut into chunks

    ·         Juice of 1/2 a lime

    ·         1/2 teaspoon ground thyme

    ·         1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

    ·         1/4 teaspoon ground Allspice (Jamaican pepper)

    ·         1/2 teaspoon salt

    ·         1 cup coarsely chopped plantain chips

 

PREPARATION:

Heat canola oil in a large stockpot over medium high heat. Add onions and sauté 5 to 7 minutes or until tender; add ginger and garlic and sauté one additional minute.

Add broth, water, plantains, and sweet potatoes, and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer with the pot covered for 10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Puree until smooth with an immersion blender. Stir in lime juice, thyme, cayenne pepper, allspice, and salt.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with plantain chips.

Health benefits of :

SWEET POTATO: high in vitamin B6 (prevention of heart attacks); good source of vitamin C (important role in bone and tooth formation, digestion, and blood cell formation, helps accelerate wound healing, produces collagen which helps maintain skin’s youthful elasticity); contain vitamin D (influences energy levels, moods, helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, supports the thyroid gland); contains iron (red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper im­mune functioning, metabolizing of protein); good source of mag­nesium (the relaxation and anti-stress mineral, necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function).

PLANTAIN: produce TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) when ripe, which kills abnormal or cancerous cells; good source of fiber (fiber helps normal bowel movements, reduces constipation problems); contains vitamin C; vitamin A (powerful antioxidant, vital role in visual cycle, maintains healthy mucus membranes, enhances skin complexion); source of B-complex vitamins particularly high in vitamin-B6 (treatment of neuritis, anemia,  decreases homocystine, one of the causative factors for coronary artery diseaseand stroke episodes); moderate levels of folates, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin; contains iron, magnesium, and phosphorous; contains more potassium than bananas ( important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure, countering negative effects of sodium).

GINGER: Reduces inflammation of the colon, Protection against Colorectal Cancer, reduces High blood pressure (hypertension), reduces the symptoms of pain in primary dysmenorrhea.