Soup
photo by LucyS-D
- Ready In:
- 1hr 20mins
- Ingredients:
- 11
- Yields:
-
8 cups
- Serves:
- 8
ingredients
- leek (ok, if you like them, clean white part WELL & finely chop, add with onion)
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 carrots
- 4 celery ribs
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon dry herbs or 1 tablespoon fresh herb
- 1 teaspoon another dry herbs (optional) or 1 tablespoon another fresh herb (optional)
- 8 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper (to taste)
directions
- wash and trim the onion, carrots and celery and dice them.
- put the onion, carrot, celery and olive oil in a larger, non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat.
- stir the vegetables every few minutes so they don't burn.
- once the vegetables have softened, after 7-10 minutes, add garlic, herbs and water.
- turn the heat down to low so the pan is just simmering.
- After simmering for 10 minutes, carefully puree the soup using an immersion blender. (use electric mixer if no blender).
- OPTIONS BELOW--choose an option or two to make the soup your own:.
- strain the soup through a fine sieve to make a clear broth.
- add 2 cups vegetables and simmer until vegetables are cooked--about 10 minutes.
- add 1/2 cup of barley, rice or pasta or other favorite grain and simmer until cooked.
- replace 2 cups of the water with 2 cups of chicken or beef broth.
- add 3 cups of already-cooked dried beans (lentils, pintos, etc).
- add 1-2 cups of finely chopped, cooked meat or fish and heat through.
- with raw meat or fish, cook it first, then drain off fat if the meat is very fatty and begin the soup adding the olive oil and veggies --
- add 1 cup of cream or half and half at the end of cooking to make into a creamy soup.
- add 3 tablespoons of tomato paste and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, stir in and heat through.
- add 1/2 cup very finely chopped spinach; if already cooked, then heat through, otherwise, simmer the spinach for 3-4 minutes.
- get creative with garnishes to put on top--croutons, shredded cheese, mint or parsley, teaspoon of sour cream, paprika sprinkle.
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Reviews
-
Very easy soup broth starter recipe. I didn't even chop the veggies. I cooked them in the water with a couple of pieces of chicken to make chicken broth. Then I strained the broth to use with some leftover veggies and spices to make the soup "my own." Thanks for posting, now everyone can easily make a fool proof soup. Made for PAC Fall 2009.