Leahey Gardens Homestyle No Chicken Rice Soup- gluten free/ vegan
Hooray! My new computer finally came in, so sit back and get ready for the great reviews I have been waiting to post. I have been MIA for a bit since my old computer decided to misbehave. Now I am back and am excited to share some great new gluten free products with you.
Who doesn’t like a bowl of steaming hot soup on a cold winter evening?
I used to eat lots of chicken soup in the winter when I was growing up in Minnesota- it was great for taking the bitter edge off the long, cold winter. The winters in Pennsylvania aren’t quite as frigid or snowy, but a good bowl of soup still hits the spot after a day of being out and about. However, quickly heating up a jar or can of Campbell’s soup just isn’t an option anymore since my celiac diagnosis. When I come in from the cold, the last thing I want to do is wait an hour or more for homemade soup to simmer.
What’s a girl to do?
This Leahey Gardens No Chicken Rice Soup may offer a nice option when you want soup in a pinch, but don’t have the time for homemade. This soup comes in a powdered mix packaged in a single serving 42 gm golden yellow pouch, and I purchased it for $1.79 at Nature’s Pantry, the local natural foods store in my area.
This soup is certified vegan, and the title is clear that there isn’t any real chicken. But I really like real chicken soup, so I hope this tastes good. And you know what? I am pleasantly surprised. It’s actually really tasty!
Preparation couldn’t be easier- mix the pouch with 1 1/2 cups of water. A quick zap in the microwave for two minutes, let it rest for five minutes, and it is ready to eat.
This soup consists of a incredibly flavorful broth accented by tiny bits of red bell pepper, spices and white rice. The bits of “chicken” are made from textured soy protein. The soy “chicken” bits are OK, but they look odd and have a strange texture and appearance. In fact, I ended up spooning them out of my bowl, because the rest of the soup was good enough without them.
This is not a thick and hearty soup- basically a great broth with a little veggies and rice thrown in, and in reality, you could probably make easily make it yourself . However, it is great as a last minute meal idea if you want something hot and tasty, or even as a quick lunch at work.
PROS: great price, easy prep, flavorful and filling
CONS: the soy “chicken” bits have a strange texture and appearance
RATING: 4 stars
Ingredients: precooked long grain white rice ( enriched with iron, niacin, thiamine mononitrate ( vitamin B1), folic acid), food starch- unmodified, yeast extract, fructan, veegtable fiber, dried bell pepper, sunflower oil, onion powder, salt, maltodextrin, natural flavor, spice
To but this gluten free soup mix, please ask your local foods grocer- I was unable to find an online source for purchase.
Want to try making homemade gluten free chicken and rice soup?Visit Gluten free Mommy’s blog for her fabulous recipe!
