In recent years, bone broth consumption has been a major health trend, with its benefits preached by celebrity health gurus like Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Wahlberg. Jessica Henssler, through her company Real Good Bone Broth, is making it her mission to make high-quality bone broth and its many benefits accessible to the Memphis community.

Jessica has a Thai heritage, so she grew up eating and cooking meals centered around flavorful broths and soups and has always been interested in consuming delicious, healthy food. She married a chef who shared her passion for food, and together they began making broths as a fun way to pass the time during COVID-19. Initially, Jessica was making large batches to give to her sick friends, but immediately began receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, both of her broths’ great flavors and their immune system benefits. Soon, her quarantine pastime became a passion project, and she continued researching methods to infuse the best flavors into her broths while retaining the highest quality nutrients. After five years spent perfecting her craft, Real Good Broth was born.

WHAT IS BONE BROTH, AND WHAT MAKES REAL GOOD BONE BROTH SO SPECIAL?

Animal bones are full of nutrients such as collagen and amino acids, and when boiled in hot water, these nutrients are infused into the liquid to form a highprotein, nourishing broth. The nutrients within the bone broth are natural and easily absorbed by the body and provide several benefits, such as skin health, digestion, immunity, and joint health, among others. Jessica aims to get bones from local butchers whenever possible to further ensure the quality of her product, and double blanches the bones to make a clean, purified broth. This broth can then be used in many recipes or in place of water to cook simple carbs like rice or pasta to easily infuse extra protein and nutrients. As Jessica puts it, “People want to be healthy, and they want healthy options, but there has to be an easier way than practicing fad diets and synthetic supplements.”

Real Good Thai Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of Chicken Real Good Broth
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 cup of Bok Choy
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon of fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1/2 cup of green onions, sliced
  • 1 package of fresh noodles or Zoodles!!
  • (Chef’s choice )

Get Creative:

Bean sprouts, poached egg, or red chili,
thinly sliced, for heat!

Directions:

In a large pot, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic and ginger until aromatic – about 1-2 minutes.

Add the chicken thighs to the pot and cook each side for about 5 minutes or until browned.

Combine Real Good Broth, fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, and sugar in same pot and stir.

Bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce heat and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Cook noodles, drain, and set aside.

After 20 minutes, remove chicken thighs from pot, shred, and return.

Add Bok Choy and simmer until tender.

Divide noodles into bowls, ladle soup, garnish with fresh cilantro, green onions, Thai basil, and a few slices of red chili, and serve!body in numerous ways. To top it off, a rainbow of crunchy, fresh vegetables and herbs offers essential nutrients. Indulge in this wellness bowl, knowing you’re nourishing your body with every delicious sip! Slurp, smile, repeat!

You can find Real Good Broth at the Memphis Farmer’s Market, and check out their Instagram page @realgoodbroth for Jessica’s fun and flavorful recipes. Try Jessica’s Thai Noodle Soup using her recipe on page 47.

By Zoe Harrison