If you're like me, the weekend just didn't seem long enough. There always seems to be something that we didn't get a chance to do. No matter, there's always next weekend.
In the meantime, we still need to eat. Here are six recipes to get the week started off just right, including Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup and Mini Churro Doughnut Holes. Enjoy!
VEGAN FRIED “CHICKEN” WITH SEITAN
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Vegan fried ‘chicken’ made with seitan. This fried seitan "chicken" dish is deep-fried, so it isn't particularly healthy, though it is cholesterol-free and it sure is mighty tasty! Deep fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's really quite similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. If you like southern fried chicken, try vegan southern fried seitan made with all the same ingredients including a spicy batter and a coat of flour to make it just the perfect amount of crispiness. Make sure you have some ketchup or mustard or something to serve alongside to dip your vegan fried chicken in.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
You can view this online here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt (or seasoned salt)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: dash cayenne pepper
1-1/2 cups flour
Optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 lb. seitan (or another chicken substitute, cut into 1 to 2" square pieces)
Directions
In a medium to large bowl, mix together the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, flour, black pepper, cayenne, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mustard and water. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard mixture and combine well.
Add baking powder to the flour mixture and combine well.
Coat pieces of seitan or mock chicken with the mustard batter, then coat each piece with the dry flour mixture.
Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, hot sauce or barbecue sauce.
CRANBERRY-PECAN BAKED PEACHES
This also comes from the November 2014 issue of Heart Insight Magazine. It begins, “Fresh peaches are halved and baked with a tantalizing blend of dried cranberries and finely chopped pecans.” Serves 4; 2 peach halves and 2 tablespoons cranberry mixture per serving.
To view this online, go to http://heartinsight.heart.org/November-2014/Cranberry-Pecan-Baked-Peaches/.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
3 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
4 medium unpeeled peaches, nectarines, or pears, halved, pitted, and skin pierced in several places with a fork
2 teaspoons light tub margarine
1/2 teaspoon grated peeled gingerroot
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Lightly spray a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray. Pour the honey into the pan. Heat the pan in the oven for 2 minutes, or until the honey is slightly runny. Remove from the oven, tilting the pan and swirling so the honey lightly coats the bottom.
Sprinkle the cranberries and pecans in the pan. Place the peaches with the cut side down over the cranberry mixture. (Some of the mixture may not be covered.) Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the peaches are tender.
Arrange the peaches with the cut side up on a serving plate. Stir the margarine and gingerroot into the pan juices. Spoon the cranberry mixture into the cavities in the peaches. Spoon the pan juices over all. Serve warm or at room temperature.
MINI CHURRO DOUGHNUT HOLES
This yummy recipe is from Old El Paso, and begins, “This DIY version of fair food goes bite-size and gets an added flavor boost from caramel.”
By Pillsbury Kitchens
Total Time: 15 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Canola oil for deep-frying
1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Flaky Layers refrigerated Original biscuits
Caramel sauce, if desired
Instructions
Fill 3-quart saucepan one-third full with oil. Heat over medium heat to about 350°F. Line plate with paper towels; set aside.
In small bowl, stir together cinnamon-sugar and powdered sugar; set aside.
Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Split each biscuit into 2 rounds; place on cutting board. Using very small doughnut-hole cutter or mouth of an empty bottle, cut out mini-sized doughnut holes.
When oil is hot, carefully drop a few of the doughnut holes into oil at a time. (See Tip.) Using slotted metal spoon or kitchen spider, continuously turn holes over and over until golden brown. Remove from oil; place on paper towel-lined plate to drain. Immediately place holes in sugar mixture; coat completely. Serve doughnut holes immediately drizzled with caramel sauce.
Expert Tips
The safest way to fry is to bring your hand close to the oil and gently drop in the dough versus quickly dropping and splashing the oil.
To prep ahead by a few hours, you can cut the dough and store it in a zipper-topped plastic bag in the fridge.
VEGGIE-LOADED PASTA
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet. Serving size: 1 1/2 cups. Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
12 ounces soy crumbles, ground
2 cans tomatoes, diced, no salt added (14.5 ounces each)
2 cups small zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
6 ounces whole wheat bow-tie pasta
3 tablespoon basil, fresh (or 3 teaspoons dried basil)
Instructions
Place a large saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add the oil, onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook until the onion is tender.
Add soy crumbles, tomatoes, zucchini, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
While the mixture is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions.
When the pasta is finished cooking, drain well and gently mix into the vegetable sauce. Garnish with basil.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 260; Total fat: 6 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 300 mg; Total carbohydrate: 33 g; Dietary fiber: 8 g; Protein: 17 g
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from EatingWell (originally from Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2019), and begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Active Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins; Servings: 8; Serving Size: 2 cups soup and 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2026
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Thursday Recipes
Today's meatless post has a little of this and a little of that. Check out the Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup, the Maple Sriracha Roasted Vegetables, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
BISQUICK DUMPLINGS
This recipe is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "With a fluffy, light texture, dumplings are somewhat like a very moist biscuit. The Bisquick drop dumplings require only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes to mix up. Dropped by spoonfuls onto simmering stew or soup, they expand into their fluffy, cloud-like texture."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups Original Bisquick™ Baking Mix
2/3 cup 2% milk
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
Instructions
In medium bowl, mix Bisquick and milk just until Bisquick is moistened and a soft dough forms.
Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto boiling stew; reduce heat until liquid maintains a simmer.
Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook and additional 10 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy in the center.
Spoon stew into serving bowls. Use slotted spoon to carefully place a dumpling on top of each serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
RESTAURANT-STYLE SPINACH MANICOTTI
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Who says you need fancy restaurants for classic Italian dishes? Our Restaurant-Style Spinach Manicotti is a lighter version of your favorite baked pasta dish, so you can still enjoy this Italian dish, in moderation of course!"
Cook Time: 50 minutes; Serves: 7
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Pastas/Restaurant-Style-Spinach-Manicotti.
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package manicotti shells (14 shells)
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, diced
1 (32-ounce) container fat-free ricotta cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups light spaghetti sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions, omitting the salt; drain, rinse, drain again, and place in a large baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat a small saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until tender. Add the mushrooms and saute until brown.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, the egg, spinach, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Add the onion mixture; mix well.
Spoon the mixture into the manicotti shells (see Note), top with the spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until heated through.
Note
To fill the shells, carefully place the cheese mixture in a large resealable plastic storage bag with a corner snipped off. Then you can just squeeze the filling into the manicotti shells, using the storage bag like a pastry bag. Simple, right?
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
MAPLE SRIRACHA ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Kikkoman.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/recipes/maple-sriracha-roasted-vegetables/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2 cups brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup red onion, coarsely chopped
For Serving
1/2 teaspoon flaky salt
Directionos
Preheat oven to 400ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together oil, maple syrup and sriracha. Add brussels sprouts, carrots and red onion. Mix well to coat.
Spread vegetables evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve hot topped with flaky sea salt.
SAUTEED JAMAICAN CALLALOO
This yumminess is from Gabi Odebode on the Food Network.
This recipe starts off, "Callaloo is so popular in Jamaica that this leafy green is often referred to as Jamaican spinach. Although it looks something like spinach, it has a sturdier texture that’s akin to collard greens. Believed to have traveled to the Caribbean from West Africa, callaloo is cooked in many ways throughout the islands, including in ways similar to Southern braised collards. In Jamaica, it’s often sautéed, particularly with bell peppers and other vegetables for a bit of sweetness. Herbs and spice are added for robust flavor that’s bound to please even those who aren’t greens fans. Fresh callaloo can be difficult to find so we use frozen leaves in this recipe. Serve the dish with rice, plantains or boiled dumplings for a full Jamaican experience."
Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sauteed-jamaican-callaloo-18572553.
Note: This recipe originally called for either chicken or vegetable bouillon powder. I’ve omitted the chicken option, leaving it at vegetable bouillon.
Ingredients
5 ounces frozen callaloo
2 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
2 scallions, sliced
1 habanero pepper or scotch bonnet pepper, chopped, optional
2 teaspoons vegetable bouillon powder, optional
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Sea salt, to taste
Directions
Place the frozen callaloo in a medium bowl and allow it to thaw about 10 minutes. Remove and discard the thick stems from the callaloo but keep the thin stems attached to the leaves. Roughly chop the callaloo, place it in a strainer and rinse it thoroughly with room-temperature water to remove any dirt. Set aside in the strainer.
Fill a bowl large enough to comfortably hold the strainer with boiling water. Place the strainer with the callaloo into the water for about 3 minutes. Rinse the callaloo in cold water until cool, about 2 minutes. This step helps soften the callaloo and brighten its color. Press down on the callaloo in the strainer to remove excess water or wrap it in cheesecloth and wring out the water. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and cook until slightly tender, about 2 minutes. Add the scallions and habanero pepper, if using, and cook for another minute. Add the callaloo and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in the bouillon powder, if using, and the thyme and cook for another 3 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue cooking until the callaloo is completely wilted and dark green, about 5 minutes. Taste again and add more salt if needed.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
BISQUICK DUMPLINGS
This recipe is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "With a fluffy, light texture, dumplings are somewhat like a very moist biscuit. The Bisquick drop dumplings require only 2 ingredients and 5 minutes to mix up. Dropped by spoonfuls onto simmering stew or soup, they expand into their fluffy, cloud-like texture."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cups Original Bisquick™ Baking Mix
2/3 cup 2% milk
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
Instructions
In medium bowl, mix Bisquick and milk just until Bisquick is moistened and a soft dough forms.
Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto boiling stew; reduce heat until liquid maintains a simmer.
Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook and additional 10 minutes or until dumplings are no longer doughy in the center.
Spoon stew into serving bowls. Use slotted spoon to carefully place a dumpling on top of each serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
RESTAURANT-STYLE SPINACH MANICOTTI
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Who says you need fancy restaurants for classic Italian dishes? Our Restaurant-Style Spinach Manicotti is a lighter version of your favorite baked pasta dish, so you can still enjoy this Italian dish, in moderation of course!"
Cook Time: 50 minutes; Serves: 7
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Pastas/Restaurant-Style-Spinach-Manicotti.
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package manicotti shells (14 shells)
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, diced
1 (32-ounce) container fat-free ricotta cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups light spaghetti sauce
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions, omitting the salt; drain, rinse, drain again, and place in a large baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Coat a small saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the onion and garlic and saute over medium heat until tender. Add the mushrooms and saute until brown.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, the egg, spinach, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Add the onion mixture; mix well.
Spoon the mixture into the manicotti shells (see Note), top with the spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until heated through.
Note
To fill the shells, carefully place the cheese mixture in a large resealable plastic storage bag with a corner snipped off. Then you can just squeeze the filling into the manicotti shells, using the storage bag like a pastry bag. Simple, right?
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
MAPLE SRIRACHA ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Kikkoman.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/recipes/maple-sriracha-roasted-vegetables/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2 cups brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup red onion, coarsely chopped
For Serving
1/2 teaspoon flaky salt
Directionos
Preheat oven to 400ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together oil, maple syrup and sriracha. Add brussels sprouts, carrots and red onion. Mix well to coat.
Spread vegetables evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve hot topped with flaky sea salt.
SAUTEED JAMAICAN CALLALOO
This yumminess is from Gabi Odebode on the Food Network.
This recipe starts off, "Callaloo is so popular in Jamaica that this leafy green is often referred to as Jamaican spinach. Although it looks something like spinach, it has a sturdier texture that’s akin to collard greens. Believed to have traveled to the Caribbean from West Africa, callaloo is cooked in many ways throughout the islands, including in ways similar to Southern braised collards. In Jamaica, it’s often sautéed, particularly with bell peppers and other vegetables for a bit of sweetness. Herbs and spice are added for robust flavor that’s bound to please even those who aren’t greens fans. Fresh callaloo can be difficult to find so we use frozen leaves in this recipe. Serve the dish with rice, plantains or boiled dumplings for a full Jamaican experience."
Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 4 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/sauteed-jamaican-callaloo-18572553.
Note: This recipe originally called for either chicken or vegetable bouillon powder. I’ve omitted the chicken option, leaving it at vegetable bouillon.
Ingredients
5 ounces frozen callaloo
2 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
2 scallions, sliced
1 habanero pepper or scotch bonnet pepper, chopped, optional
2 teaspoons vegetable bouillon powder, optional
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Sea salt, to taste
Directions
Place the frozen callaloo in a medium bowl and allow it to thaw about 10 minutes. Remove and discard the thick stems from the callaloo but keep the thin stems attached to the leaves. Roughly chop the callaloo, place it in a strainer and rinse it thoroughly with room-temperature water to remove any dirt. Set aside in the strainer.
Fill a bowl large enough to comfortably hold the strainer with boiling water. Place the strainer with the callaloo into the water for about 3 minutes. Rinse the callaloo in cold water until cool, about 2 minutes. This step helps soften the callaloo and brighten its color. Press down on the callaloo in the strainer to remove excess water or wrap it in cheesecloth and wring out the water. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the red and yellow bell peppers and cook until slightly tender, about 2 minutes. Add the scallions and habanero pepper, if using, and cook for another minute. Add the callaloo and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in the bouillon powder, if using, and the thyme and cook for another 3 minutes. Add salt to taste and continue cooking until the callaloo is completely wilted and dark green, about 5 minutes. Taste again and add more salt if needed.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Soup
When it's cold out, there's nothing more comforting than a bowl of homemade soup. To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to get you through the day, including Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup, and Smoky Tomato Soup. Enjoy!
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
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.
SMOKY TOMATO SOUP
This yumminess is from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Alexa wrote, "A grown-up version of grilled cheese’s best friend, this tomato soup is subtly complex thanks to the addition of ancho chile and smoked paprika, but it still has all of the nostalgic qualities of a really good tomato soup: It’s silky, robust and wonderfully tomato-y. Taking a cue from this classic tomato soup, this recipe calls for sweating the onion and garlic with a little flour to thicken the soup, which creates a velvety texture that doesn’t hide the pure tomato flavor. Simmering a whole ancho chile in the soup produces an undercurrent of heat; but if you prefer more spice, pluck off the stem and blend the chile into your finished soup rather than discarding it. Adjust the amount of cream and the level of heat as you like and the soup will taste just right to you."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1-1/4 hours; Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings (about 8-1/2 cups)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026266-smoky-tomato-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken part.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion (about 1 pound), minced
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
3 cups vegetable stock
8 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ancho chile
Crema (or sour cream thinned with water), for serving
Chives (optional), for serving
grilled cheese (optional)
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and paprika, and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Sprinkle the flour on top and cook, stirring constantly, until sizzling and crackling, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, squeezing the tomatoes to crush them as you add them to the pot. Stir in the stock, thyme sprigs and sugar. Drop in the ancho chile (plop!) and bring to a simmer over medium-high.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover almost all the way and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors deepen and tomatoes break down, about 45 minutes.
Pluck out the ancho chile and thyme sprigs, then transfer the soup to a blender (in batches, if needed) and blend until creamy. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it right in the pot.) Give the soup a taste and adjust seasoning if desired. If you’d like to increase the smoky flavor, you can blend in a portion of the stemmed and deseeded chile, if desired.
Transfer to bowls, top with a swirl of crema and a sprinkle of chives. Serve with grilled cheese, if desired.
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck on The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more. What's not to love?
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable broth. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken broth and left it as just vegetable broth.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
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.
SMOKY TOMATO SOUP
This yumminess is from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Alexa wrote, "A grown-up version of grilled cheese’s best friend, this tomato soup is subtly complex thanks to the addition of ancho chile and smoked paprika, but it still has all of the nostalgic qualities of a really good tomato soup: It’s silky, robust and wonderfully tomato-y. Taking a cue from this classic tomato soup, this recipe calls for sweating the onion and garlic with a little flour to thicken the soup, which creates a velvety texture that doesn’t hide the pure tomato flavor. Simmering a whole ancho chile in the soup produces an undercurrent of heat; but if you prefer more spice, pluck off the stem and blend the chile into your finished soup rather than discarding it. Adjust the amount of cream and the level of heat as you like and the soup will taste just right to you."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1-1/4 hours; Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings (about 8-1/2 cups)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026266-smoky-tomato-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken part.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion (about 1 pound), minced
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
3 cups vegetable stock
8 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ancho chile
Crema (or sour cream thinned with water), for serving
Chives (optional), for serving
grilled cheese (optional)
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and paprika, and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Sprinkle the flour on top and cook, stirring constantly, until sizzling and crackling, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, squeezing the tomatoes to crush them as you add them to the pot. Stir in the stock, thyme sprigs and sugar. Drop in the ancho chile (plop!) and bring to a simmer over medium-high.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover almost all the way and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors deepen and tomatoes break down, about 45 minutes.
Pluck out the ancho chile and thyme sprigs, then transfer the soup to a blender (in batches, if needed) and blend until creamy. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it right in the pot.) Give the soup a taste and adjust seasoning if desired. If you’d like to increase the smoky flavor, you can blend in a portion of the stemmed and deseeded chile, if desired.
Transfer to bowls, top with a swirl of crema and a sprinkle of chives. Serve with grilled cheese, if desired.
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck on The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more. What's not to love?
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable broth. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken broth and left it as just vegetable broth.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Soup
There's something comforting about a bowl of homemade Soup, especially when the weather starts to cool.
To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to help you through the day, including Black Bean and Salsa Soup and Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup. Enjoy!
SMOKY TOMATO SOUP
This yumminess is from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Alexa wrote, "A grown-up version of grilled cheese’s best friend, this tomato soup is subtly complex thanks to the addition of ancho chile and smoked paprika, but it still has all of the nostalgic qualities of a really good tomato soup: It’s silky, robust and wonderfully tomato-y. Taking a cue from this classic tomato soup, this recipe calls for sweating the onion and garlic with a little flour to thicken the soup, which creates a velvety texture that doesn’t hide the pure tomato flavor. Simmering a whole ancho chile in the soup produces an undercurrent of heat; but if you prefer more spice, pluck off the stem and blend the chile into your finished soup rather than discarding it. Adjust the amount of cream and the level of heat as you like and the soup will taste just right to you."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1-1/4 hours; Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings (about 8-1/2 cups)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026266-smoky-tomato-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken part.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion (about 1 pound), minced
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
3 cups vegetable stock
8 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ancho chile
Crema (or sour cream thinned with water), for serving
Chives (optional), for serving
grilled cheese (optional)
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and paprika, and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Sprinkle the flour on top and cook, stirring constantly, until sizzling and crackling, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, squeezing the tomatoes to crush them as you add them to the pot. Stir in the stock, thyme sprigs and sugar. Drop in the ancho chile (plop!) and bring to a simmer over medium-high.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover almost all the way and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors deepen and tomatoes break down, about 45 minutes.
Pluck out the ancho chile and thyme sprigs, then transfer the soup to a blender (in batches, if needed) and blend until creamy. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it right in the pot.) Give the soup a taste and adjust seasoning if desired. If you’d like to increase the smoky flavor, you can blend in a portion of the stemmed and deseeded chile, if desired.
Transfer to bowls, top with a swirl of crema and a sprinkle of chives. Serve with grilled cheese, if desired.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This Is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. 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
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes; Total Time: 485 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to help you through the day, including Black Bean and Salsa Soup and Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup. Enjoy!
SMOKY TOMATO SOUP
This yumminess is from Alexa Weibel at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Alexa wrote, "A grown-up version of grilled cheese’s best friend, this tomato soup is subtly complex thanks to the addition of ancho chile and smoked paprika, but it still has all of the nostalgic qualities of a really good tomato soup: It’s silky, robust and wonderfully tomato-y. Taking a cue from this classic tomato soup, this recipe calls for sweating the onion and garlic with a little flour to thicken the soup, which creates a velvety texture that doesn’t hide the pure tomato flavor. Simmering a whole ancho chile in the soup produces an undercurrent of heat; but if you prefer more spice, pluck off the stem and blend the chile into your finished soup rather than discarding it. Adjust the amount of cream and the level of heat as you like and the soup will taste just right to you."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1-1/4 hours; Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings (about 8-1/2 cups)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026266-smoky-tomato-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already subscribed to The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Note: This recipe originally called for chicken or vegetable stock. Since this is a vegetarian blog, I’ve omitted the chicken part.
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion (about 1 pound), minced
Salt and black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
3 cups vegetable stock
8 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ancho chile
Crema (or sour cream thinned with water), for serving
Chives (optional), for serving
grilled cheese (optional)
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and paprika, and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Sprinkle the flour on top and cook, stirring constantly, until sizzling and crackling, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, squeezing the tomatoes to crush them as you add them to the pot. Stir in the stock, thyme sprigs and sugar. Drop in the ancho chile (plop!) and bring to a simmer over medium-high.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover almost all the way and simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors deepen and tomatoes break down, about 45 minutes.
Pluck out the ancho chile and thyme sprigs, then transfer the soup to a blender (in batches, if needed) and blend until creamy. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend it right in the pot.) Give the soup a taste and adjust seasoning if desired. If you’d like to increase the smoky flavor, you can blend in a portion of the stemmed and deseeded chile, if desired.
Transfer to bowls, top with a swirl of crema and a sprinkle of chives. Serve with grilled cheese, if desired.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This Is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. 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
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes; Total Time: 485 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Soup
If you tend to enjoy homemade soup, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup, the Vegan French Onion Soup, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in i>The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This Is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. While you're at it, sign up for i>The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. Loads of great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
CARAMELIZED TOMATO AND SHALLOT SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "Fresh tomato soup is a treat best enjoyed with juicy, end-of-season tomatoes, but this versatile recipe is delicious all year long. Both the shallots and tomatoes are caramelized along with tomato paste, which gives the soup deeper flavor. Take your time and let the tomatoes reduce, because the more they caramelize, the more delicious the soup will be. While this recipe does take a little bit of time, it’s mostly hands-off simmering. Make it when the weather turns cool and a big pot of soup simmering on the stove sounds just right."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1-1/4 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025808-caramelized-tomato-and-shallot-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter yet, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnishing
1 pound shallots, halved and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
3 pounds tomatoes, cored and chopped (about 6 cups)
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 packed cup fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnishing
1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat if they begin getting crispy at the edges, until caramelized and jammy, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the chopped tomatoes in a colander set over a large bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, toss and set aside, re-tossing occasionally to encourage the tomatoes to release as much liquid as possible.
When the shallots are caramelized, stir the tomatoes into the pot along with the garlic and the sugar. (Reserve the tomato liquid in the bowl for use in Step 6.)
Cook over medium heat, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot, until most of the tomato juices released in the pan have concentrated and the mixture is beginning to brown on the bottom of the pan, about 20 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the mixture is caramelized and thick and there are brown spots on the bottom of the pan, 5 to 10 minutes.
Pour the reserved tomato liquid into a large measuring cup and add enough water to total 3 cups. Pour the liquid into the pot, then stir in the basil, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and again scrape any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer, then use an immersion blender to purée the soup to your desired thickness.
Stir in the cream, if using, and season with pepper and salt. Serve warm with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil.
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
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.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
PUMPKIN SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in i>The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This recipe turns canned pumpkin purée into a sublimely creamy, aromatic soup that makes for an elegant first course or a satisfying lunch on a cold day. While the combination of pumpkin and fall spices can easily veer in the direction of dessert, the addition of fresh rosemary, garlic, caramelized onions and curry powder plants this soup firmly in the savory camp. Finally, to make this recipe vegan, substitute olive oil for the butter, full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth. If time and availability allow, consider roasting your own sugar pumpkin for this recipe: The soup will have a deeper, more complex flavor (see Tip)."
Total Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in "This Is Not Your Average Pumpkin Soup," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021618-pumpkin-soup. While you're at it, sign up for i>The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. Loads of great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider (or 3/4 cup apple juice)
4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, plus more as needed
2 (15-ounce) cans pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling), or 3 cups homemade pumpkin purée (see Tip)
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for serving
Pinch of ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
For the Fried Sage Topping (optional)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. If the onions begin browning too quickly, turn the heat to low.
Add the maple syrup and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have darkened in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cider and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.
Add the broth, pumpkin purée, curry powder, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook at a full simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching.
Working in batches, purée the soup in a blender or food processor and return to the pot (or use an immersion blender). Bring back to a simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat and stir in the cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more broth if the soup is too thick.
To make the optional fried sage topping, melt the butter in a small or medium skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until just crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or a fork, transfer the sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the butter left behind in the pan.
To serve, spoon the soup into individual bowls. Top each serving with 2 fried sage leaves and a drizzle of the reserved butter (if using), or a swirl of cream and pinch of nutmeg. Serve hot.
Tip
To make your own pumpkin purée, heat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the stem from a 4- to 5-pound sugar or “pie” pumpkin, then cut the pumpkin in half through the stem. Scoop out the pulp and seeds and discard. (Or rinse and dry the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast on a sheet pan in 375-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.) Carefully slice the pumpkin into 1-1/2-inch-thick wedges. Place the wedges on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the pumpkin flesh is very tender when pierced with a fork. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then spoon the flesh into a large bowl, discarding the skins. Mash with a fork until mostly smooth.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
CARAMELIZED TOMATO AND SHALLOT SOUP
This is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "Fresh tomato soup is a treat best enjoyed with juicy, end-of-season tomatoes, but this versatile recipe is delicious all year long. Both the shallots and tomatoes are caramelized along with tomato paste, which gives the soup deeper flavor. Take your time and let the tomatoes reduce, because the more they caramelize, the more delicious the soup will be. While this recipe does take a little bit of time, it’s mostly hands-off simmering. Make it when the weather turns cool and a big pot of soup simmering on the stove sounds just right."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1-1/4 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025808-caramelized-tomato-and-shallot-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter yet, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnishing
1 pound shallots, halved and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
3 pounds tomatoes, cored and chopped (about 6 cups)
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 packed cup fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnishing
1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat if they begin getting crispy at the edges, until caramelized and jammy, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the chopped tomatoes in a colander set over a large bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, toss and set aside, re-tossing occasionally to encourage the tomatoes to release as much liquid as possible.
When the shallots are caramelized, stir the tomatoes into the pot along with the garlic and the sugar. (Reserve the tomato liquid in the bowl for use in Step 6.)
Cook over medium heat, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot, until most of the tomato juices released in the pan have concentrated and the mixture is beginning to brown on the bottom of the pan, about 20 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the mixture is caramelized and thick and there are brown spots on the bottom of the pan, 5 to 10 minutes.
Pour the reserved tomato liquid into a large measuring cup and add enough water to total 3 cups. Pour the liquid into the pot, then stir in the basil, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and again scrape any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a simmer, then use an immersion blender to purée the soup to your desired thickness.
Stir in the cream, if using, and season with pepper and salt. Serve warm with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil.
BLACK BEAN AND SALSA SOUP
This is from allrecipes, and was submitted by someone named Maryanne. Maryanne wrote, "This soup is one of those last minute things I tossed together one night. It's very simple and it takes about 5 minutes to put together."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14132/black-bean-and-salsa-soup/.
Ingredients
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
Directions
In an electric food processor or blender, combine beans, broth, salsa, and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth.
Heat the bean mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until thoroughly heated.
Ladle soup into 4 individual bowls, and top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of the sour cream and 1/2 tablespoon green onion.
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.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Soup's On!
When it's cold outside, is there anything more comforting than a bowl of homemade soup? Maybe not. To that end, here are six soup recipes to help you through the day, including Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato & Kale and Slow-Cooker Vegetable Minestrone Soup. Enjoy!
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes; Total Time: 485 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
RED LENTIL SOUP
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "This is a lentil soup that defies expectations of what lentil soup can be. Based on a Turkish lentil soup, mercimek corbasi, it is light, spicy and a bold red color (no murky brown here): a revelatory dish that takes less than an hour to make. The cooking is painless. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then stir in tomato paste, cumin and chile powder and cook a few minutes more to intensify flavor. Add broth, water, red lentils (which cook faster than their green or black counterparts) and diced carrot, and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée half the mixture and return it to the pot for a soup that strikes the balance between chunky and pleasingly smooth. A hit of lemon juice adds an up note that offsets the deep cumin and chile flavors."
Total Time: 45 min utes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "A Lentil Soup to Make You Stop, Taste and Savor," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup.
Check out Melissa Clark's guide, "How to Cook Beans." While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it.
Note: This recipe originally called for 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth. Since I’m including it here, I removed the chicken broth and left it at just veggie broth.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper
Pinch of chili powder or ground cayenne, plus more to taste
1 quart vegetable broth
1 cup red lentils
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, 1/4 teaspoons each salt and black pepper and the chili powder, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partly cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup, then add it back to pot. The soup should be somewhat chunky.
Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder, if desired.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet.
Serves 6; Serving size: 1-1/3 cup.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning
32 ounces low-sodium vegetable broth
6 cups frozen broccoli, chopped
6 tablespoons plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
Instructions
Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and lemon pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
Add vegetable broth and broccoli. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 9 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
Remove soup from the heat. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth.
Top each serving with a tablespoon of yogurt.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 90; Total fat: 3 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 135 mg; Total carbohydrate: 12 g; Dietary fiber: 6 g; Protein: 6 g
SPICY PEANUT SOUP WITH SWEET POTATO & KALE
This is from Lindsay, whose blog, Pinch of Yum is fantastic. (Hint: If you'd like to check it out, and I really, really think you should, feel free to do that now. I'll wait...or you can check it out after looking at today's recipes. But seriously, check it out!!!)
Anyway, this recipe starts out, "Okay, YUMMMM. Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potatoes + Kale! Comforting and SUPER nutritious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, ALL THE GOOD THINGS."
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 5-6 (about 1-1/2 cups per serving)
Note: The total time will change if you decide to use your slow cooker, which I'm planning to do sometime in the next couple of days. I'm always looking for recipes that convert well to a slow cooker, for a variety of reasons.
To view this yummy recipe online (as well as to read everything Linsay wrote about this recipe), go to https://pinchofyum.com/sweet-potato-peanut-soup.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
half an onion, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
one 14-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
one 14-ounce can light coconut milk
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry and/or turmeric
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup peanut butter
1–2 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add sweet potatoes. I like to brown them a little bit with the aromatics to get them nice and flavorful.
Add tomatoes, coconut milk, water, spices, and peanuts. Simmer until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
Add peanut butter and kale. Simmer until everything is thick, creamy, and delicious. Top with more peanuts and a little cilantro if you’re obsessed like me.
Notes
Instant Pot: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on high pressure for about 3 minutes with a quick release. (Sometimes I reduce the liquid when I make it in the Instant Pot by a cup or so, and then just add more as needed when it’s all done. But that is optional – it should work fine either way.) Stir in the peanut butter and kale after cooking. Voila!
Slow Cooker: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on low for 6 hours. Stir in the peanut butter and kale. Donezo! Don’t cook the sweet potatoes too long or they’ll fall apart on ya! Just cook until they pierce easily with a fork. If you’re doing Sugar Free January with us, this is an excellent recipe that has natural sweetness and nutritious fats to keep you full. I like to dip into this with some seedy crackers – you can find our product recommendations on this post.
One last note. This recipe is inspired by an amazing West African recipe called maafe, or groundnut soup. I did what I always do and changed/added some ingredients based on what I love and what I had on hand (kale, jalapeño, coconut milk, cilantro, etc.) making it more of a cultural mash-up. That’s why I’m not calling it a proper West African peanut soup even though those are its roots. If you want a legit West African version of that soup, here are two sources – a blog post, and a video.
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 480 minutes; Total Time: 485 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
HERBED CARROT SOUP
From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett
Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in the butter. Add the stock and carrots and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs and continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, and put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread and garnish with some fresh parsley and a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
RED LENTIL SOUP
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "This is a lentil soup that defies expectations of what lentil soup can be. Based on a Turkish lentil soup, mercimek corbasi, it is light, spicy and a bold red color (no murky brown here): a revelatory dish that takes less than an hour to make. The cooking is painless. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then stir in tomato paste, cumin and chile powder and cook a few minutes more to intensify flavor. Add broth, water, red lentils (which cook faster than their green or black counterparts) and diced carrot, and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée half the mixture and return it to the pot for a soup that strikes the balance between chunky and pleasingly smooth. A hit of lemon juice adds an up note that offsets the deep cumin and chile flavors."
Total Time: 45 min utes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "A Lentil Soup to Make You Stop, Taste and Savor," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup.
Check out Melissa Clark's guide, "How to Cook Beans." While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it.
Note: This recipe originally called for 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth. Since I’m including it here, I removed the chicken broth and left it at just veggie broth.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper
Pinch of chili powder or ground cayenne, plus more to taste
1 quart vegetable broth
1 cup red lentils
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, 1/4 teaspoons each salt and black pepper and the chili powder, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partly cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup, then add it back to pot. The soup should be somewhat chunky.
Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder, if desired.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from Eating Well. It begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
Tips
Equipment: 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker
CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet.
Serves 6; Serving size: 1-1/3 cup.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning
32 ounces low-sodium vegetable broth
6 cups frozen broccoli, chopped
6 tablespoons plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
Instructions
Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and lemon pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
Add vegetable broth and broccoli. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 9 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
Remove soup from the heat. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth.
Top each serving with a tablespoon of yogurt.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 90; Total fat: 3 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 135 mg; Total carbohydrate: 12 g; Dietary fiber: 6 g; Protein: 6 g
SPICY PEANUT SOUP WITH SWEET POTATO & KALE
This is from Lindsay, whose blog, Pinch of Yum is fantastic. (Hint: If you'd like to check it out, and I really, really think you should, feel free to do that now. I'll wait...or you can check it out after looking at today's recipes. But seriously, check it out!!!)
Anyway, this recipe starts out, "Okay, YUMMMM. Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potatoes + Kale! Comforting and SUPER nutritious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, ALL THE GOOD THINGS."
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 5-6 (about 1-1/2 cups per serving)
Note: The total time will change if you decide to use your slow cooker, which I'm planning to do sometime in the next couple of days. I'm always looking for recipes that convert well to a slow cooker, for a variety of reasons.
To view this yummy recipe online (as well as to read everything Linsay wrote about this recipe), go to https://pinchofyum.com/sweet-potato-peanut-soup.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
half an onion, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
one 14-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
one 14-ounce can light coconut milk
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry and/or turmeric
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup peanut butter
1–2 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add sweet potatoes. I like to brown them a little bit with the aromatics to get them nice and flavorful.
Add tomatoes, coconut milk, water, spices, and peanuts. Simmer until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
Add peanut butter and kale. Simmer until everything is thick, creamy, and delicious. Top with more peanuts and a little cilantro if you’re obsessed like me.
Notes
Instant Pot: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on high pressure for about 3 minutes with a quick release. (Sometimes I reduce the liquid when I make it in the Instant Pot by a cup or so, and then just add more as needed when it’s all done. But that is optional – it should work fine either way.) Stir in the peanut butter and kale after cooking. Voila!
Slow Cooker: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on low for 6 hours. Stir in the peanut butter and kale. Donezo! Don’t cook the sweet potatoes too long or they’ll fall apart on ya! Just cook until they pierce easily with a fork. If you’re doing Sugar Free January with us, this is an excellent recipe that has natural sweetness and nutritious fats to keep you full. I like to dip into this with some seedy crackers – you can find our product recommendations on this post.
One last note. This recipe is inspired by an amazing West African recipe called maafe, or groundnut soup. I did what I always do and changed/added some ingredients based on what I love and what I had on hand (kale, jalapeño, coconut milk, cilantro, etc.) making it more of a cultural mash-up. That’s why I’m not calling it a proper West African peanut soup even though those are its roots. If you want a legit West African version of that soup, here are two sources – a blog post, and a video.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Soup's On!
If you're ready for a large helping of homemade soup, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Broccoli Chowder, the Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potato & Kale, and all the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Slow Cooker Time: 8 hours; Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
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
THREE SISTERS SOUP
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.
“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup
Note: This recipe calls for either chicken or vegetable stock on the American Heart Association web site. However, since this is a vegetarian blog, I'm keeping it at only the veggie broth. Also, if you're looking for quite a few yummy heart-healthy recipes, check out the AHA's site and follow around to their recipes.
Ingredients
6 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed
16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 rib celery (chopped)
15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)
5 fresh sage leaves
OR
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Directions
Bring veggie stock to a slow boil.
Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.
Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from EatingWell (originally from Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2019), and begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Active Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins; Servings: 8; Serving Size: 2 cups soup and 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
SPICY PEANUT SOUP WITH SWEET POTATO & KALE
This is from Lindsay, whose blog, Pinch of Yum is fantastic. (Hint: If you'd like to check it out, and I really, really think you should, feel free to do that now. I'll wait...or you can check it out after looking at today's recipes. But seriously, check it out!!!)
Anyway, this recipe starts out, "Okay, YUMMMM. Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potatoes + Kale! Comforting and SUPER nutritious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, ALL THE GOOD THINGS."
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 5-6 (about 1-1/2 cups per serving)
Note: The total time will change if you decide to use your slow cooker, which I'm planning to do sometime in the next couple of days. I'm always looking for recipes that convert well to a slow cooker, for a variety of reasons.
To view this yummy recipe online (as well as to read everything Linsay wrote about this recipe), go to https://pinchofyum.com/sweet-potato-peanut-soup.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
half an onion, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
one 14-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
one 14-ounce can light coconut milk
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry and/or turmeric
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup peanut butter
1–2 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add sweet potatoes. I like to brown them a little bit with the aromatics to get them nice and flavorful.
Add tomatoes, coconut milk, water, spices, and peanuts. Simmer until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
Add peanut butter and kale. Simmer until everything is thick, creamy, and delicious. Top with more peanuts and a little cilantro if you’re obsessed like me.
Notes
Instant Pot: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on high pressure for about 3 minutes with a quick release. (Sometimes I reduce the liquid when I make it in the Instant Pot by a cup or so, and then just add more as needed when it’s all done. But that is optional – it should work fine either way.) Stir in the peanut butter and kale after cooking. Voila!
Slow Cooker: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on low for 6 hours. Stir in the peanut butter and kale. Donezo! Don’t cook the sweet potatoes too long or they’ll fall apart on ya! Just cook until they pierce easily with a fork. If you’re doing Sugar Free January with us, this is an excellent recipe that has natural sweetness and nutritious fats to keep you full. I like to dip into this with some seedy crackers – you can find our product recommendations on this post.
One last note. This recipe is inspired by an amazing West African recipe called maafe, or groundnut soup. I did what I always do and changed/added some ingredients based on what I love and what I had on hand (kale, jalapeño, coconut milk, cilantro, etc.) making it more of a cultural mash-up. That’s why I’m not calling it a proper West African peanut soup even though those are its roots. If you want a legit West African version of that soup, here are two sources – a blog post, and a video.
BROCCOLI CHOWDER
From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)
8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)
1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat
VEGETARIAN TACO SOUP IN THE CROCKPOT
This recipe left me in a quandary: do I post it on Taco Tuesday with tacos, or should I post it with soups? I guess this would fit in both places, which is why I'm adding it today.
This came from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “I love Mexican food. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I love Mexican-American food. Or rather, I love both!
“This vegetarian taco soup recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans and black beans isn't going to win any awards of authenticity, but it's quick to prepare (you really just dump everything in the crockpot), easy, high-protein, nearly fat-free, and deliciously satisfying. Plus, it's a great vegetarian and vegan option for families on a budget. Keep it vegan by omitting the optional cheese and sour cream toppings, or use dairy-free and vegan substitutes.”
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Slow Cooker Time: 8 hours; Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes; Yield: 6 servings as a main dish
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 can kidney beans or navy beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 7-ounce can green chiles (optional - you may want to omit this if you're cooking for kids)
1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes (Mexican-style is best, if you can find it) - do not drain
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Optional garnishes:
tortilla chips or corn chips
grated cheese
chopped green onions
fresh chopped cilantro
Preparation
Add ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low crockpot setting for 8-10 hours.
If you're in a hurry, you can also set this on high in the crockpot for 3 hours.
Top each bowl of soup with optional garnishes to serve: cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some tortilla chips or corn chips and fresh chopped cilantro or green onions.
This is a thicker soup, similar to a stew. To thin it out, you can add a little vegetable broth or soy milk, if you like.
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
THREE SISTERS SOUP
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.
“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup
Note: This recipe calls for either chicken or vegetable stock on the American Heart Association web site. However, since this is a vegetarian blog, I'm keeping it at only the veggie broth. Also, if you're looking for quite a few yummy heart-healthy recipes, check out the AHA's site and follow around to their recipes.
Ingredients
6 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed
16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 rib celery (chopped)
15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)
5 fresh sage leaves
OR
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Directions
Bring veggie stock to a slow boil.
Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.
Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE SOUP
This is from EatingWell (originally from Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2019), and begins, "A winter classic, this crock pot version of minestrone is heavy on the vegetables and light on the pasta, keeping carbs in check while providing plenty of flavor."
Active Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins; Servings: 8; Serving Size: 2 cups soup and 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese
To view this online, go to https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/269114/slow-cooker-vegetable-minestrone-soup/.
Ingredients
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added red kidney beans, rinsed
2 (15 ounce) cans no-sodium-added diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups no-sodium-added vegetable broth, such as Kitchen Basics
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 large zucchini, chopped
4 ounces whole-wheat pasta elbows or other small pasta (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Combine carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a 6- to 8-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
Stir in zucchini, pasta, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on Low until the pasta is tender, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately, topping each serving with about 1-1/2 tablespoons Parmesan.
SPICY PEANUT SOUP WITH SWEET POTATO & KALE
This is from Lindsay, whose blog, Pinch of Yum is fantastic. (Hint: If you'd like to check it out, and I really, really think you should, feel free to do that now. I'll wait...or you can check it out after looking at today's recipes. But seriously, check it out!!!)
Anyway, this recipe starts out, "Okay, YUMMMM. Spicy Peanut Soup with Sweet Potatoes + Kale! Comforting and SUPER nutritious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, ALL THE GOOD THINGS."
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 5-6 (about 1-1/2 cups per serving)
Note: The total time will change if you decide to use your slow cooker, which I'm planning to do sometime in the next couple of days. I'm always looking for recipes that convert well to a slow cooker, for a variety of reasons.
To view this yummy recipe online (as well as to read everything Linsay wrote about this recipe), go to https://pinchofyum.com/sweet-potato-peanut-soup.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
half an onion, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
one 14-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
one 14-ounce can light coconut milk
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry and/or turmeric
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup peanut butter
1–2 cups kale, stems removed, chopped
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Saute until soft and fragrant.
Add sweet potatoes. I like to brown them a little bit with the aromatics to get them nice and flavorful.
Add tomatoes, coconut milk, water, spices, and peanuts. Simmer until sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
Add peanut butter and kale. Simmer until everything is thick, creamy, and delicious. Top with more peanuts and a little cilantro if you’re obsessed like me.
Notes
Instant Pot: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on high pressure for about 3 minutes with a quick release. (Sometimes I reduce the liquid when I make it in the Instant Pot by a cup or so, and then just add more as needed when it’s all done. But that is optional – it should work fine either way.) Stir in the peanut butter and kale after cooking. Voila!
Slow Cooker: Cook everything except peanut butter and kale on low for 6 hours. Stir in the peanut butter and kale. Donezo! Don’t cook the sweet potatoes too long or they’ll fall apart on ya! Just cook until they pierce easily with a fork. If you’re doing Sugar Free January with us, this is an excellent recipe that has natural sweetness and nutritious fats to keep you full. I like to dip into this with some seedy crackers – you can find our product recommendations on this post.
One last note. This recipe is inspired by an amazing West African recipe called maafe, or groundnut soup. I did what I always do and changed/added some ingredients based on what I love and what I had on hand (kale, jalapeño, coconut milk, cilantro, etc.) making it more of a cultural mash-up. That’s why I’m not calling it a proper West African peanut soup even though those are its roots. If you want a legit West African version of that soup, here are two sources – a blog post, and a video.
BROCCOLI CHOWDER
From Diabetic Gourmet. Yield: 6 servings, 1 cup each
Source: "The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook"
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-1/2 cups vegetable broth (two 14-ounce cans)
8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)
1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)