Soup's On!

When it's cold outside, there's something wonderful about a pot of homemade soup to warm you up. To that end, here are six homemade soup recipes to help you through the day, including Five Bean Soup and Vegan French Onion Soup. Enjoy!

DUMPLING NOODLE SOUP

This is from Hetty Lui McKinnon in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this wonderful soup, Hetty wrote, "Keep a package or two of frozen dumplings in your freezer for this warming weeknight meal. This recipe is loosely inspired by wonton noodle soup, but replaces homemade wontons with store-bought frozen dumplings for a quick alternative. The soup base, which comes together in just 10 minutes, is surprisingly rich and full-bodied, thanks to the trio of ginger, garlic and turmeric. Miso paste brings extra savoriness, but you could substitute soy sauce or tamari. Scale up on veggies if you like; carrots, peas, snow peas or mushrooms would be excellent additions. Any type of frozen dumpling works in this dish, making it easy to adapt for vegan, vegetarian or meat-loving diners."

Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022937-dumpling-noodle-soup. Also, while you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter (if you haven't already). Loads of great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

6 ounces thin dried wheat, egg or rice noodles

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 (2-inch) piece ginger, grated

2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

6 cups vegetable stock

2 tablespoon white miso paste

16 ounces frozen dumplings (not thawed)

4 baby bok choy (about 12 ounces), trimmed and each cut into 4 pieces through the stem

1 small head broccoli (about 9 ounces), cut into bite-size florets

Handful of cilantro or chopped scallions, for serving

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package instructions, until the noodles are just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well again. Divide them among four serving bowls.

Place the same large pot over medium heat, and add sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Stir and cook for 30 seconds, until aromatic. Add turmeric, and stir for 15 seconds, until fragrant.

Pour the vegetable stock into the pot, then season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes on medium heat, to allow flavors to meld.

Remove the lid and add the miso paste, stirring constantly until it is dissolved. Taste, and season with more salt, if needed.

Increase the heat to medium-high, and carefully drop the dumplings into the broth. When they float to the top, add the baby bok choy and broccoli, and cook for about 2 minutes, just until the broccoli is crisp-tender.

Ladle the broth, dumplings, baby bok choy and broccoli into the four bowls over the noodles. To serve, top with cilantro or chopped scallions.

BEST BLACK BEAN SOUP

This comes from Julia Moskin in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Julia wrote, “This American classic can be a perfect dish: big-tasting, filling, nutritious, easy and very possibly vegetarian. With their rich natural broth, turtle beans do not need bacon, ham or any meat ingredient to make a satisfying soup. Black bean soup recipes have a tendency to turn out sludgy or bland, but the trick here is to season generously, and purée sparingly. The beans should be swimming in liquid, not sitting in sludge: The more beans are puréed, the more starch is released into the soup. For flavor, this recipe deploys marinated chipotle chiles, but a tablespoon each of ground cumin and ground coriander make a good heat-free substitute. (A note: Since there is acid from the wine here, if your tap water is hard there might be a reaction that will prevent the beans from softening. To be safe, add the wine later, along with the stock. And if there is any question about the hardness of your water, use distilled.)”

Yield: 10 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in “Rediscovering Black Bean Soup”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018592-best-black-bean-soup.

Ingredients

For the Soup

1 small (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo (see note)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 onions, peeled and chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup red wine

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped

1 pound dry black beans (do not soak)

2 quarts mild vegetable or chicken stock

1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican

2 bay leaves

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Red wine vinegar, to taste

For the Pickled Onions and Garnishes (Optional):

1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced

Freshly squeezed juice of 2 limes

Salt

Sour cream or Mexican crema

Whole cilantro leaves

Thinly sliced fresh chiles

Sliced avocado

Preparation:

Empty the can of chiles into a blender or food processor. Purée until smooth, scrape into a container, and set aside. Put on a teakettle of water to boil, and keep hot.

In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add carrots, onions and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes.

Pour in wine and let simmer until pan is almost dry and vegetables are coated. Add jalapeños and cook, stirring, just until softened, 2 minutes. Push the vegetables out to the edges of the pot and dollop 2 teaspoons of chipotle purée in the center. Let fry for a minute and then stir together with the vegetables.

Add beans, stock, oregano and bay leaves. Stir, bring to a boil, and let boil 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, partly covered, stirring occasionally and adding hot water as needed to keep the soup liquid and runny, not sludgy. Continue cooking until beans are just softened and fragrant, 1 to 2 hours. Add salt and pepper and keep cooking until beans are soft.

Meanwhile, make the pickled onions, if using: In a bowl, combine sliced onions, lime juice and a sprinkling of salt. Let soften at room temperature until crunchy and tart, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze dry in paper towels and refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, chop coarsely before serving.

Adjust the texture of the soup: The goal is to combine whole beans, soft chunks and a velvety broth. Some beans release enough starch while cooking to produce a thick broth without puréeing. If soup seems thin, use an immersion blender or blender to purée a small amount of the beans until smooth, then stir back in. Continue until desired texture is reached, keeping in mind that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits.

Heat the soup through, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, drops of red wine vinegar and dabs of chipotle purée.

Serve in deep bowls, garnishing each serving with sour cream, pickled onions, cilantro leaves, sliced chiles and avocado as desired.

Tip

If chipotle chiles are unavailable, use 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and ground coriander. Add to vegetables at the same point in the recipe, in Step 3.

BROWN RICE AND BEAN SOUP

This yumminess is from Eden Foods. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Serves: 5

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon roasted garlic granules

1/4 cup organic sweet corn, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup celery, diced

15 ounces Eden Rice & Pinto Beans, or Spanish Rice & Pinto Beans

16 ounces Eden Refried Pinto Beans, or Spicy Refried Black Beans

1/2 tsp Eden Sea Salt, or to taste

1 pinch Eden Black Pepper, or to taste

1 1/2 cups diced organic tomatoes, do not drain

4 cups water

1/2 tsp Eden Dried Basil

1 tsp Eden Cumin Powder

2 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced, for garnish

Directions

Heat oil in a medium soup pot, and sauté the onion for 2 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients except the parsley. Mix thoroughly, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes or until creamy. Serve garnished with parsley.

Nutritional Information Per serving – 194 calories, 4 g fat (19% calories from fat), 8 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate, 8 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 409 mg sodium

VEGAN FRENCH ONION SOUP

When I was growing up, my dad used to make French Onion Soup. This was usually done on Sundays, frequently when my grandparents were visiting, and especially around holidays. So, of course, I had to check out this recipe.

This absolute yumminess is from Nicole, creator of Oh My Veggies. (Hint: If you've never visited Oh My Veggies, I highly recommend visiting. Great site!)

Anyway, this recipe begins, "This Vegan French Onion Soup is comfort food at its finest. Tender onions are simmered in a savory broth, topped with cheesy toast, and baked to perfection."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Servings: 4

To view this online, go to https://ohmyveggies.com/vegan-french-onion-soup/. While you're at it, you might want to sign up for emails from the site. Also, Nicole has a couple of cookbooks for sale (Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking; Vegan Christmas Cookbook), and you can see about buying them when you visit the site. (I plan to buy 'em after Christmas.)

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

4 yellow onions thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic minced

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs of thyme

1-1/2 cups white wine such as Chardonnay

6 cups vegetable broth

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

4 slices baguette

1 cup vegan mozzarella cheese shreds

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C, or gas mark 4).

Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook slowly for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until they are lightly caramelized. Add the garlic, bay leaves and thyme. Cook for 1 minute. Add the white wine and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until slightly reduced. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the balsamic vinegar and stir. Remove the bay leaves. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Spoon the soup into four ovenproof serving dishes. Top each bowl with a slice of baguette, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup (30 g) of the vegan cheese shreds. Place the bowls in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, until the vegan cheese is melted and the baguette is slightly toasted.

FIVE BEAN SOUP

This is from Eden Foods. Serves 10. Prep Time 10 minutes. Cook Time 40 minutes.

Ingredients

2 Tbs Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1/4 C celery, diced

1/2 C carrots, diced

3 Tbs barley, rinsed

3 C water

1 can Eden Organic Pinto Beans

1 can Eden Organic Black Beans

1 can Eden Organic Kidney Beans

1 can Eden Organic Navy Beans

1 can Eden Organic Garbanzo Beams

1 C sweet corn, fresh or frozen

1 can Eden Organic Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Onion

1/2 tsp dried basil

1-1/2 tsp crushed bay leaf

1 tsp Eden Sea Salt – French Celtic

Directions

Heat oil in soup pot, sauté garlic & onion until onion is translucent. Add water, celery, carrot & barley, beans, corn, tomatoes & herbs. Add salt, cover & simmer 30 minutes. Serve.

HEALTHIFIED BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP

This yummy recipe is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy

This can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

1 bunch broccoli

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 medium red-skinned potato, diced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 cup grated extra-sharp Cheddar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

One 12-ounce can fat-free evaporated milk

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Note: The recipe originally called for either chicken or vegetable broth. For obvious reasons, I've left this as just the veggie broth.

Directions

Separate the stems and the florets from the broccoli. Trim and discard the bottom of the broccoli stems and peel the tough outer layers. Finely chop the stems and coarsely chop the florets and set aside separately.

Mist a large pot with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the broccoli stems, onions and potatoes and cook, stirring, until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and the vegetables are tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the reserved florets and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and continue to steam until the florets are bright green and crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the entire contents of the pot with the florets to the soup along with the nutmeg. Stir to combine and remove from the heat. Stir in the Cheddar, Worcestershire and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with the scallions.

Cook’s Note

Leftover soup should be reheated in the microwave rather than the stovetop, where the cheese will "break" or separate from the broth.

New Year's Day Food

Happy New Year! I hope your New Year's Eve was good (and safe), and that 2024 is good for all of us.

If you're like many people, you've come up with a few New Year's Resolutions (even if you didn't write them down). If you're like me (yes, I came up with a few), they involve improving your health (as much as you can possibly do), watching your diet, and exercising more. Am I close?

If one of the things you're planning to do in the new year is to become a vegetarian, or at least go vegetarian once a week, you've come to the right place. (Or, at least, one of many good places to check out.) Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to start the new year off right, including Frozen Toffee Pie and New Year's Black-Eyed Peas & Greens. (If you've ever lived in the Southern United States - or lived with someone who identifies as a Southerner, you probably know that Black-Eyed Peas & Greens are a big deal for New Year's Day.) Enjoy!

CREAMY YOGURT WITH PASSION FRUIT COULIS

This also comes from the October 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 69. It begins, “This light dessert is a lovely way to end a casual meal. To make your own Greek-style yogurt, place 4 cups low-fat yogurt in a strainer over a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight. This drains off excess liquid to thicken the yogurt.” Makes 6 servings in 30 minutes or less.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

6 passion fruit

3/4 cup tangerine or orange juice

3 Tbs. sugar

3 cups low-fat Greek-style yogurt

Mint sprigs for garnish, optional

Directions

Cut passion fruit in half, and scoop pulp and seeds into saucepan. Add tangerine juice, sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 5 to 6 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Strain out seeds, and cool.

Divide yogurt among 4 shallow bowls. Spoon passion fruit sauce over top. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 125; Protein: 9 g; Total Fat: 2 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Sodium: 47 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 16 g

FROZEN TOFFEE PIE

This is from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 70. It begins, “This dessert tastes particularly good after a rich meal when you want something sweet, but not too heavy. There are endless variations to try with different ice creams, toppings, and syrups.” Serves 10.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/frozen-toffee-pie/.

Ingredients

25 chocolate wafer cookies

3 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

1 qt. low-fat coffee ice cream

1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

1-1/2 cups nonfat chocolate syrup, warmed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Pulse cookies to fine crumbs in food processor. Transfer to bowl, and stir in butter. Press into 9-inch pie pan, packing crumbs evenly across bottom and up sides. Bake 8 minutes, then cool.

Soften ice cream 30 minutes in refrigerator. Spread in cooled piecrust. Sprinkle with peanuts, cover with foil, and freeze until firm. Slice, and serve drizzled with chocolate sauce.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 351; Protein: 6 g; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 54 g; Cholesterol: 27 mg; Sodium: 246 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 38 g

SPOON BREAD WITH FRESH SAGE

This is from the November/December 2007 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 61. It begins, “A puddinglike side dish from the South, spoon bread goes together in no time and should be eaten piping hot. Before chopping fresh sage, rub the leaves between your fingers to test its pungency. If the scent isn’t strong, increase the amount you’re using to 3 or 4 tablespoons.” Serves 8.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/spoon-bread-with-fresh-sage/.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. chopped fresh sage

1 tsp. salt

1 cup yellow cornmeal

2 Tbs. butter, plus more for greasing dish

1 tsp. baking powder

2 large eggs

1 cup low-fat milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 425˚F. Butter 9-inch-square glass or enamel baking dish.

Bring 2 cups water, sage, and salt to a boil in large saucepan. Stir in cornmeal, and bring back to a boil, stirring constantly, or until cornmeal begins to thicken. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Cool 10 minutes. Stir in baking powder.

Lightly beat eggs in bowl, then whisk in milk until combined. Whisk egg mixture into cornmeal mixture, and pour into prepared baking dish. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top begins to brown and spoon bread looks set.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 137; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 5.5 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Sodium: 417 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 2 g; Gluten-Free

NEW YEAR'S BLACK-EYED PEAS AND GREENS

You know I couldn't post today's blog without adding a black-eyed peas recipe! This one comes from the December 2013 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 68. This one begins, "“Eat poor on New Year’s, and eat fat the rest of the year,” goes the saying in the American South, where black-eyed peas are eaten at New Year’s for luck and good fortune. The peas are said to represent coins, and are often eaten alongside collard greens, which represent paper money, as well as golden cornbread. 
This version replaces the collards with superfood kale." Serves 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 lb. dried black-eyed peas (1 1/4 cups)

1 bay leaf

2 Tbs. red wine vinegar

1 3/4 tsp. salt, divided

1 12-oz. bunch kale, stems removed, leaves torn into pieces

2 Tbs. lemon juice, divided

2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced (1 1/2 cups)

2 Tbs. olive oil

4 green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh oregano

Directions

Set peas in saucepan, and cover with boiling water; let sit 1 hour. Drain, return peas to saucepan, cover with fresh water, and add bay leaf. Bring to a boil, and cook 20 minutes. Add vinegar and 1 tsp. salt, and cook 10 to 25 minutes longer, or until peas are tender but keep their shape.

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add kale, and boil 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and toss with 1 tsp. lemon juice.

Toss tomatoes with 1/4 tsp. salt in colander. Let sit, shaking occasionally, 
to drain juices.

Combine remaining 1/2 tsp. salt, remaining 5 tsp. lemon juice, oil, 
green onions, parsley, and oregano in large bowl.

Drain peas, and remove bay leaf. 
Add to bowl with lemon juice and herbs, and mix well. Add tomatoes, and mix again. Serve warm, with kale on side.

nutritional information Per 1-cup serving: Calories: 195; Protein: 10 g; Total Fat: 6 g;Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 701 mg; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 6 g; Vegan; Gluten-Free

TEXAS CAVIAR

This comes from Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, “This Tex-Mex style of salsa includes beans and white corn, along with the other traditional salsa ingredients of tomatoes, onions, chiles, and cilantro. Here, the chosen beans are canned black-eyed peas, so you can easily put this together. Make it a couple of days in advance so the flavors can meld. Serve with tortilla chips, and you have a crowd-pleasing party appetizer with little effort.”

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Yield: 4 cups

Note: I'm no longer able to find a link for this, but I did want to give credit for this yummy recipes.

Ingredients

1 (15.8-ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained (see Notes)

1-1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato

1 cup canned white "shoe-peg" corn, drained

1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions

3 Tablespoons canned chopped mild green chiles

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar or white vinegar

1 Tablespoon (about 1 medium-sized) minced seeded jalapeno or serrano chile pepper

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Fresh cilantro for garnish

Preparation

In a large bowl, combine black-eyed peas, tomatoes, corn, green oniones, mild green chiles, vinegar, jalapenos, cilantro, olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir gently until mixed.


Cover and refrigerate 2 to 3 days to let flavors meld.

To serve, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and accompany with colorful, plain, or cheesy tortilla chips.

Notes:
Feel free to substitute black beans or small pinto beans for the black-eyed peas.

KFC’S COLESLAW

Okay, I admit it: I love KFC’s Coleslaw. When I drove cab for a living, I used to pick up some of their coleslaw probably once a week.

This copycat recipe comes from Recipe Lion; it was one of the recipes in their e-cookbook, titled “24 New Top Secret Restaurant Copycat Recipes.” The site has quite a few free e-cookbooks to check out. Please feel free to do so!

This recipe begins, “KFC copycat recipes are always delicious, and this one is an all-time favorite. When you're preparing for your next picnic or potluck with friends, consider this easy coleslaw recipe. It's always a crowd pleaser any time it's served and it couldn't be any easier to make.”

Ingredients

8 1/8 cups cabbage

1/3 cup carrots, shredded

1 teaspoon onion, chopped fine

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/8 cup milk

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

Core the cabbage, then shred using the slicing disk for the shredder attachment to the food processor.

Shred the carrot the same way or use pre-shredded carrots.

Mix together cabbage, carrot and onion.

In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, mayonnaise, milk, and lemon juice with a whisk until well combined.

Add the salt and pepper.

Add the sugar to the sauce until well mixed in.

Add the sauce to the cabbage and carrot mixture. Mix well and allow the mixture to marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight. Mix thoroughly before serving.