Spring Green Detox Soup
(Primavera Soup)
I created this soup as the light was beginning to return. When the soil begins to stir, the wind carries the promise of spring, and the body craves fresh, green things.
I was craving freshness. Bright herbs, bitter greens, citrus. The kind of nourishment that feels light but grounding. A reset, without restriction. A detox, but for the spirit too.
The vegetables of early spring are medicine. Bitter, astringent, alive. They help us shed the heaviness of winter and remind the body what it feels like to wake up.
The brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and beans ground and cleanse. Citrus and herbs bring clarity and brightness. Cashews and cannellini beans make it silky and satisfying. And the crunchy pumpkin seed brittle on top? That’s just joy.
This soup is mineral-rich, herb-forward, and creamy in all the right ways. A bowl of green you’ll actually want to eat.
Simple, rooted, alive.
Ingredients:
Makes about 12 cups
This recipe makes a large batch. I am a huge fan of meal prepping so I love to have this soup in the fridge for a few days and then freeze a couple portions.
For the Soup:
1 large white onion, diced
6 ribs of celery with leaves, sliced
1 head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
1 lb Brussels sprouts, peeled and chopped
1 lb frozen spinach (or 1 container of fresh spinach), chopped
1–2 small cucumbers, sliced
Radishes, for garnish
10 cloves of garlic
2 limes, zest and juice
2 lemons, zest and juice
8 cups broth (bone broth recommended for added protein)
4 cups water
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp black pepper
1.5 cups cashews, soaked in cold water
1/2 cup hemp hearts
1.5 cups cannellini beans (canned or dried, if using dried, soak ahead of time)
1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 bunch of chives, chopped
1 cup parsley, chopped
For Toppings:
Cucumber ribbons
Shaved radish
Dairy-free sour cream (Forager brand) or Greek yogurt
For Pumpkin Seed Brittle:
1 cup pumpkin seeds
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp maple syrup
6 garlic cloves, minced or sliced thin
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp crushed coriander seed
2 tsp Tony Chachere’s seasoning (or other Cajun seasoning)
A pinch or two of flaky Maldon sea salt, to finish
Special Tools:
High-speed blender or immersion blender
Prep:
Night Before:
Rinse and soak beans (skip if using canned).
Soak cashews in cold water.
Day Of:
*If using dried beans rinse and cook per package directions
Wash and break down cauliflower into florets.
Wash and roughly chop Brussels sprouts.
Dice the onion.
Peel 16 garlic cloves; leave 10 whole, and mince or slice 6.
Slice celery.
Wash all herbs.
Measure out salt, pepper, and pepper flakes.
Drain cashews.
Zest and juice lemons and limes.
Prepare a parchment-lined tray for the pumpkin seed brittle.
Method:
Make the Soup:
In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and sliced celery. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cooking until soft, about 5–10 minutes.
Add the minced or sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
Pour in the broth and water. Bring to a boil.
Add Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, drained cashews, hemp hearts, and cannellini beans. Stir to combine.
Add the 10 whole garlic cloves, along with the lemon and lime zest.
Bring to a boil again, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are soft.
Add the spinach and heat through, then turn off the heat.
Make the Pumpkin Seed Brittle:
Crush the coriander seeds.
Heat a pan over low heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook until they begin to squeak and pop.
Add olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and crushed coriander seeds. Heat for 1 minute.
Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
Stir in Tony Chachere’s seasoning or other Cajun seasoning, then add the maple syrup.
Let the mixture heat through for another 1–2 minutes, keeping a close eye on the garlic to prevent burning.
Pour the brittle mixture onto the prepared parchment-lined tray and allow it to cool and harden.
Blend the Soup:
Once the soup has finished cooking, ladle about 4 cups of the soup into a high-speed blender.
Add a handful of fresh herbs, a pinch of zest, and one of the cucumbers. Blend until smooth.
Pour the blended soup into a separate stockpot to keep it warm.
Repeat this process until all the soup is blended.
Finish and Serve:
Once all the soup is blended, pour the excess oil from the brittle into the soup for added flavor.
Stir in the lemon and lime juice and adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve the soup topped with cucumber ribbons, shaved radish, a dollop of dairy-free sour cream or Greek yogurt, and a generous sprinkle of pumpkin seed brittle.
Enjoy!
Notes:
For a smoother texture, you can blend the soup longer to create a creamier consistency.
The pumpkin seed brittle adds a nice crunchy texture, but if you’re looking for a lighter option, you can skip it.
If using dried beans, don’t forget to soak them the night before and cook them as needed before adding to the soup.
🌿 Vegetables & Greens
1. Cauliflower + Brussels Sprouts (Cruciferous)
High in sulfur-containing compounds like sulforaphane, which support liver detox pathways (especially phase II detox, where the liver neutralizes toxins)
Rich in fiber, which helps sweep waste out through the colon
Help balance hormones by supporting estrogen metabolism
Magickal properties: Protection, Cleansing, Grounding
2. Celery
High water content supports hydration and kidney function
Contains natural sodium and antioxidants to help reduce inflammation
Acts as a gentle diuretic
Magickal properties: Protection, Cleansing, Breaking negative thought patterns, Clarity
3. Spinach
Rich in chlorophyll, which may bind to toxins and support cleansing
Full of magnesium and folate, which help with cellular repair and natural detox processes
Magickal properties: Cleansing, Energy, Strength
4. Parsley, Mint, Basil, Cilantro, Chives
All are carminative (support digestion) and rich in volatile oils that stimulate the liver
Cilantro is especially known for its potential to bind to heavy metals and support removal
Parsley is a natural diuretic and kidney supporter
Magickal Properties: Protection, Warding, Prosperity, Emotional Healing, Success
5. Radishes + Cucumber
Radishes stimulate bile flow, aiding fat digestion and liver function
Cucumbers hydrate and cool the body, gently support the kidneys, and help flush toxins
Magickal Properties: Prosperity, Spiritual Renewal
🧄 Aromatics
6. Onion + Garlic
Both are high in sulfur compounds that fuel detox enzymes in the liver
Garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal—a natural immune and gut cleanser
Onion helps thin mucus and reduce congestion, which supports the lymphatic system
Magickal Properties: Protection, Warding, Healing
🍋 Citrus
7. Lemon + Lime (Zest + Juice)
Stimulate liver and gallbladder
High in vitamin C, which supports glutathione production (your body’s master antioxidant for detox)
Their bitter qualities also promote digestion and bile flow
Magickal Properties: Cleansing, Purification, Protection
🌰 Protein + Fat Sources
8. Cashews + Hemp Hearts + Cannellini Beans
Provide clean plant protein to support detox (your liver needs amino acids to function)
Healthy fats from cashews and hemp hearts help carry fat-soluble toxins out of the body
Beans offer fiber to bind and eliminate toxins through digestion
Magickal Properties: Prosperity, Speeds manifestation
🌶 Spices & Add-Ons
9. Crushed Red Pepper, Black Pepper, Coriander, Cajun Seasoning
Warming spices increase circulation and metabolism
Some (like coriander) support digestion and detox through the gut
Magickal Properties: Warding, Banishing, Fertility
10. Pumpkin Seeds
High in zinc and magnesium, which support liver and immune function
Contain fiber and healthy fats that aid elimination
Magickal Properties: Growth, Prosperity
Enjoy!
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