Share Your Recipes
Please browse through some of our favorite soups & stews recipes featuring a variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs. And feel free to send us your own recipe that we might be able to feature on our site and any comments about the recipes below.
Soups & Stews
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Cauliflower Soup
By David Lynch @ Closet Cooking
Soup season is definitely here and do I ever have a tasty one to share with you today, a creamy roasted cauliflower and red pepper soup!
Prep Time: 10 minutes, Cook Time: 1 hour, Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, Servings: 4
A creamy roasted red pepper and cauliflower soup with tangy melted goat cheese!
ingredients
4 red bell pepper, cut in half and seeds removed
1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon thyme, chopped
1 pinch red pepper flakes
4 cups chicken broth or chicken stock or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper to taste
directions
Place the red peppers on a baking sheet with the cut side facing down, broil until the skins are blackened, about 10 minutes, place in a sealable container and let ‘steam’ for 20 minutes before pinching the skins off.
Meanwhile, toss the cauliflower in the oil, place it in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in a preheated 400F oven until tender and caramelized, about 20-30 minutes, mixing once in the middle.
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat and cook the onion until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the roasted red peppers, cauliflower, broth, paprika and goat cheese and simmer for 10 minutes before pureeing to the desired consistency with a hand blender.
Season with salt and pepper and serve garnished with goat cheese.
Option: Use jarred or frozen roasted red peppers to save some time.
Option: Use a can of white beans as the thickener instead of the cauliflower.
Option: Replace one cup of broth with cream or milk.
Nutrition Facts: Calories 328, Fat 16g (Saturated 6g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 517mg, Carbs 30g (Fiber 7g, Sugars 14g), Protein 17g
Balkan Sausage Stew with Zucchini
Balkan Sausage Stew with Zucchini
by Alanna Kellogg @ A Veggie Venture
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Time to table: 60 minutes
Makes 7 Cups
- 2 slices bacon, chopped (or 1 tablespoon bacon grease)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram (or thyme or sage)
- 1 teaspoon caraway seed
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 2 cups hot water
- 8 ounces summer sausage, skin removed, diced small
- 2 medium potatoes, skins on, diced
- 1 pound zucchini, diced
- Sour cream
In a Dutch oven, start bacon on medium high. Add onions and peppers as prepped, then spices; cook til onions begin to brown. Stir in tomatoes and water, bring to a boil. Add summer sausage and potatoes, return to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. Add zucchini and cook until tender, about 10 minutes or longer if you like. Remove bay leaf. Serve in bowls with dollops of sour cream on top and chunks of bread to dip.
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NOTES FROM THE CHEF:
Like most stews, Balkan Sausage Stew’s flavors meld when the stew is cooked one day and served the next. But it is also good the first day when the potatoes and zucchini are still distinct and firm and fresh. Bulk up the volume with little calorie consequence by adding extra onion, pepper and tomato.
Chicken Cider Stew
by Alanna Kellogg @ A Veggie Venture
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Time to table: 50 minutes
Serves 8
- 2 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 rib celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1-1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 2 carrots, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1 apple, cored and chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 cups apple cider (see TIPS)
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 teaspoon savory, crushed
- 1/4 teaspoon basil, crushed
- 1-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons flour
Cook bacon until crisp over medium heat in 4-quart kettle. Remove bacon, chop and set aside.
Drain fat from pan, leaving only what coats the surface. Add onions, celery and chicken to the hot kettle and sauté, stirring regularly, until onions are golden and chicken is cooked through. Add carrots, sweet potatoes and apple and let cook 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add apple cider, water, ketchup, salt, savory, basil and pepper. Let simmer over low-medium heat about 20 minutes until carrots and sweet potatoes are cooked.
Put flour in small dish and slowly add 1/2 cup hot liquid from the stew to make a smooth paste. Stir into hot stew and cook another five minutes. Sprinkle with the cooked bacon.
SERVING SUGGESTION Serve with rice cooked in half water, half apple cider, which adds a sweet, almost nutty flavor to the rice that complements the stew beautifully. That said, this stew is substantial on its own and really doesn’t require a starch.
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NOTES FROM THE CHEF:
Over the years, I’ve collected several recipes that feature sweet potato, the thick-skinned, orange-fleshed tuber so packed with Vitamins A and C that some nutritionists call them a “super food”.
Especially plentiful during the fall, sweet potatoes carry about a third fewer calories and carbohydrates than white potatoes. Even low-carb diets encourage sweet potatoes when others are a no-no.
If your experience with sweet potatoes is limited to sweet concoctions topped with marshmallow, try these simple recipes and be treated to rich flavor unadulterated by added sugar. I could make a meal out of either one!
MASHED SWEET POTATOES
Cook peeled sweet potatoes in boiling water until soft. Drain the water, then mash until smooth. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Top with a touch of butter.
ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
Peel sweet potatoes and slice cross-wise about 1/3” thick. Spray or lightly brush both sides with olive oil, then arrange in single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt or parmesan cheese and bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes or until edges become crispy and centers soft.
ALANNA’s TIPS You may substitute 2 cups apple juice for the 2 cups apple cider. But for the needed astringency, near the end of the cooking time, stir in a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar. Chicken breasts are convenient but expensive. For a more frugal dish, choose chicken thighs. The bone-in, skins-on packages are quite inexpensive, I usually remove the skins however.
Pumpkin Chorizo and Black Bean Soup
by Kevin Lynch @ Closet Cooking
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6
1/2 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed (omit for vegetarian)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pinch cinnamon (optional)
3 cups chicken broth or chicken stock or ham broth or vegetable broth
2 cups pumpkin puree or 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 chipotle chilis in adobo, chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
directions:
1. Cook the chorizo in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat, about 7-10 minutes and set aside.
2. Add the oil and onion, and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, cumin and cinnamon and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
4. Add the broth, pumpkin puree, black beans, diced tomatoes and chipotles, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Puree 1/3 of the soup add the chorizo and simmer for another 10 minutes.
6. Season with salt and pepper, mix in the lime juice and cilantro and serve with your favourite garnishes such as avocado, sour cream, cheese, etc.
Option: Use diced ham instead of chorizo.
Option: Add diced pumpkin for texture and more pumpkin goodness!
NUTRITION:
Nutrition Facts: Calories 379, Fat 18g (Saturated 6g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 36mg, Sodium 651mg, Carbs 33g (Fiber 9g, Sugars 7g), Protein 20g
Minnestrone Soup
from: SuperGoldenBakes.com
I have to share this soup tip which has revolutionized my office lunches. It is, simply, freezing the soup in silicone muffin molds and bringing in just the right amount (3 cubes) to have for lunch. If you make a couple of large batches of soup over the weekend you can have healthy, comforting food on tap for the entire week and beyond. I have also saved a bundle by not buying lunch every day – another excellent incentive.
Ingredients
1 onion, finely chopped
3 leeks, white parts only, chopped
2 celery stalks, finely stalked
3 carrots, finely chopped
400g | 14 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
400g | 14 oz tin chopped tomatoes
960ml | 4 cups vegetable stock
60g | 2 oz small pasta shapes (I used stellini)
4 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
40g | 1 1 1/2 oz freshly grated Parmesan (use veggie Parmesan if you wish)
1/2 tbsp caster sugar
Olive oil to fry as needed
Salt and pepper to season
Method
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, leeks and caster sugar and fry over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
Add the celery and carrots and continue to fry, stirring occasionally for a further 5 minutes.
Stir in the beans, chopped tomatoes and stock. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat, partly cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 25 minutes.
Add your pasta and simmer for whatever the recommended cooking time is. If the liquid has reduced too much you may need to add some hot water.
Stir in the parsley and half the Parmesan and check the seasoning.
Serve hot, topped with the rest of the cheese and some croutons if you like.
A Trio of Winter Soups
My Favorite Italian Winter Soups
From the Kitchen of Engrid Winslow
Maybe you have figured out by now that I have a long-standing love affair with all things Italian. No, well then, here I am giving you a trio of Italian winter soups. The first one hails from Emelia Romagna and the next is from Umbria followed by a traditional Tuscan bean soup. By the way, a great source for traditional Italian foods of all types, including beans, check out Gustiamo. If you prefer to stay in the USA, Ranchogordo is also a wonderful source of heirloom beans and grains. Both websites have wonderful recipes as well. All of the recipes serve 4-6 people with some leftovers.
Sausage and Lentil Soup
1/2 yellow onion
1 large carrot, peeled
3 Tbsp of Tomato Paste
1/3 Cup Chicken stock or water
850 grams (1 large can) of whole peeled tomatoes
2 cups lentils (the tiny Italian ones, called Lenticchini, are preferred)
1 lb. sweet Italian Sausage
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cooking the Lentils:
Wash the lentils in a strainer. In a large pot (big enough to hold cooked lentils, sausage and sauce), cover the lentils with 1.5 inches or 2 fingers worth of water. Cook the lentils over medium-high heat until the water boils and then decrease flame to low and cover the lentils. Stir occasionally and add more water as needed until the lentils are soft ((about 45 min). Add salt and pepper to taste.
Make the “Soffrito”:
Grate the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Add olive oil to a deep frying pan (big enough to hold the vegetables and sausage) and place over medium-low heat. Add the grated vegetables to the frying pan and let reduce, occasionally stirring until soft (10-15 min).
Combine the Ingredients:
While the soffrito is developing, remove the casing from the sausage and mash flat using the back of a spoon or your hands. Once the vegetables have turned a golden hue and the onions are translucent, add the mashed sausage. Once the sausage has browned add the tomato paste, 1/3 cup of water or stock and stir. Puree the whole peeled tomatoes and, after the sausage mixture has cooked for ten minutes, pour in the tomatoes and stir. Allow it to simmer for 25 min, covered on medium-low heat. Add the lentils and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Umbrian Farro Soup
1 cup chopped yellow onion
3/4 cup chopped celery, medium chop
3/4 cup chopped carrot
2 minced cloves garlic2 1/2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
21/2 cups tomato sauce (canned or homemade)
3 cups cooked farro, cooked al dente
1-quart beef stock (use vegetable stock if desired for a vegetarian version
Directions
Sauté the onions, celery, and carrots until translucent.
Heat 1 cup of the beef stock and add the porcini to reconstitute.
Use an immersion blender or food processor to blend about 3/4 of the vegetables, the garlic, 1 cup of the cooked farro, and all of the porcini and liquid until smooth.
Add back to the pot and add the remaining farro, vegetables, and stock. Add 2 1/2 cups of tomato sauce. Season and simmer for 30 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano (optional)
Tuscan Bean Soup with Squash and Kale
(Zuppa Frantoiana)
1 finely chopped carrot
1 stick of finely chopped celery
1 small finely chopped onion
1 14-ounce can (400 grams) of cooked Borlotti (cranberry) beans (you can also use cannellini beans or chickpeas)
1 cup of pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled and diced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small bunch of cavolo nero (Also known as Dinosaur or Tuscan) kale (you could use Swiss chard, beet greens, collards or spinach instead)
4 cups of water or vegetable stock
salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Gently cook the carrot, celery, and onion in a few tablespoons of olive oil and a good pinch of salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan on low heat. Let them sweat, not color, for about 10 minutes or until softened. Add the borlotti beans with about a cup of water (enough to cover) and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Blend about half of the mixture to a smooth paste and return to the pot.
In the meantime, prepare the cavolo nero kale by slicing out the long, central stalk of the leaves and discarding and roughly chopping just the leaves.
Add the pumpkin, potatoes, and cavolo nero (if using silverbeet or spinach hold onto it until a few minutes towards the end of cooking) and top with enough water or stock to cover (up to 4 cups or 1 liter) and cook for 30 minutes, uncovered, over an active simmer so that the liquid reduces slightly and the vegetables are tender. Adjust seasoning.
Serve with a good grinding of black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and toasted bread rubbed with garlic and drizzled with olive oil.