Like most folk, I’ve resolved to eat extra greens within the new yr. Right here’s a cheap and appetizing concept that’s been making my aim a lot simpler. Every weekend, make one huge pot of Very Versatile Vegetable Soup to get pleasure from for lunch your complete week.
This soup is scrumptious, however to keep away from the “soup once more?” syndrome, easy additions to the essential vegetable soup completely change up the flavors so we don’t get bored. Some variation concepts observe the recipe.
What makes this recipe distinctive is that the veggies are sautéed for somewhat caramelization, maximizing their pure sweetness. This provides great depth of umami taste you don’t normally discover in vegetable soup.
In fact, you’ll be able to add any veggies you wish to this soup, however I focused on lower-carb veggies. Nonetheless, sturdy tasting greens like broccoli or asparagus are inclined to overpower the opposite flavors.
This delectable recipe may be made on the stovetop or a crock pot, makes about 10 servings, is definitely doubled and freezes fantastically in single or family-size parts.
I’m for something that makes it straightforward and inexpensive to achieve our dietary objectives. Right here’s to a wholesome 2022.
Very Versatile Vegetable Soup
Servings: 10
Elements
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 giant onion, chopped
4 giant carrots, chopped
4 celery stalks, chopped
4 to six cloves garlic, minced (extra should you love garlic!)
1 medium head inexperienced cabbage, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups inexperienced beans, recent or frozen, chopped
2 small russet potatoes (optionally available) peeled and chopped
8 cups (5 14.5 ounce cans) low-sodium hen, beef or vegetable broth
One huge pinch purple pepper flakes (optionally available)
Salt and pepper to style
Process
The key to this soup is the sauté. Put 1 tablespoon oil in a big soup pot on medium-high warmth. Add onion and cook dinner till almost translucent. Add carrot and sauté for 3 minutes. Add celery and proceed to cook dinner for one more 3 minutes, including extra oil as wanted. Keep in mind that you’re not cooking the veggies, simply sautéing for the delicious taste it imparts. When you get somewhat golden coloration, that’s implausible.
Add the garlic and blend it collectively for 1 minute. Add cabbage and stir. I add somewhat salt and pepper now. Prepare dinner till the cabbage begins to wilt. Add the tomatoes, inexperienced beans, potatoes, if utilizing, broth and pepper flakes, and blend all of it collectively.
When you’re placing this in a crock pot to complete, dump it in now, set to low for six to eight hours. To complete on the stovetop; let it come to a boil then flip warmth to low. Let it gently simmer away till the veggies are tender, and the soup smells divine, roughly half-hour.
Add salt and pepper to style on the finish as a result of because the soup reduces, it concentrates the flavors, together with salt. You’ll be able to exchange half the broth with water to cut back the sodium.
Variations
Change the flavour by including these elements to the recent soup by the bowl.
• Mock Minestrone — White beans, huge handful of spinach, cooked ditalini or small shell pasta, and Parmesan cheese.
• Cabbage Roll — Cooked hamburger, rice and a splash of Worcestershire. End with a dollop of bitter cream.
• Southwest — Add shredded cooked hen, black beans, corn and a touch of cumin and chili powder. Prime with shredded cheese.
• Greek Lemon Hen — Cooked shredded hen, orzo or rice, dried or recent oregano and an enormous squeeze of lemon.
