Candida Diet Friendly Ginger & Turmeric Chicken Pho-Style Soup
Warming, deeply aromatic, and built on a foundation of slow-simmered bone broth, this pho-style soup delivers all the comfort of the Vietnamese classic without a single ingredient that would derail a candida-conscious eating plan. The broth gets its incredible depth from charring the onion, garlic, and ginger directly in a dry pot — a technique that coaxes out complex, smoky-sweet flavor before a single drop of liquid is added. Ceylon cinnamon, cloves, and turmeric layer in anti-inflammatory warmth, while coconut aminos stand in for soy sauce and apple cider vinegar brightens the whole bowl without any sugar or fermented grain concerns. Instead of rice noodles, spiralized zucchini ribbons soak up the hot broth and turn perfectly tender-crisp, keeping the dish satisfying and substantial. Shredded bone-in chicken adds richness and protein, and the fresh herb finish — cilantro, basil, scallions, and a squeeze of lime — makes every spoonful feel vibrant and restaurant-worthy. It's the kind of recipe that proves eating with intention doesn't mean eating bland, and it's genuinely the sort of bowl you'll crave on a cold evening regardless of any dietary goals.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the broth
- 2 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 8 cups chicken bone broth
- 1 medium yellow onion, halved
- 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
- 3-inch piece fresh ginger, halved lengthwise
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
Ingredient noteCoconut aminos is a common stand-in for soy sauce on a candida diet. It does carry a little sugar from coconut sap, but this recipe uses only about 1 1/2 teaspoons per serving, which is likely fine.
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
For the bowls
- 3 medium zucchini, spiralized or peeled into wide ribbons
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh bean sprouts (optional)
Ingredient noteBean sprouts are low in starch, so they are usually fine on a candida diet even though beans are limited in the early stages. This recipe works out to only about 1/4 cup of bean sprouts per serving, which is likely fine. If you prefer to always avoid bean sprouts, please tap it and change its rating to Red.
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- ½ cup fresh thai basil or regular basil leaves
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- 1
Set a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Place the onion halves and garlic head cut-side down directly in the dry pot, along with the ginger halves. Cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes, until the cut surfaces are deeply charred and fragrant.
- 2
Add the chicken pieces, bone broth, turmeric, ground ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, and cloves to the pot. Pour in enough water to fully submerge the chicken if needed (up to 2 additional cups). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer.
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