. Seriously Soupy: soup ideas
Showing posts with label soup ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soup ideas. Show all posts

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Soup Recipes for Peanut Lovers

Image Credit: The National Peanut Board
If there is something I love more than soup it is peanuts and peanut butter. A creamy and high-protein food packed with vitamin E and vitamin B, peanut butter is the perfect healthy snack that I love to eat with carrots and apples or as a simple sandwich with jelly. I also recently learned from The National Peanut Board that peanuts are a great ingredient to add to salads, stews and soups and being that it is National Peanut Month this is a perfect time to share some of their delicious and healthy soup recipes. I included three recipes that peanut and soup lovers will enjoy - including a Spicy Peanut Soup with Avocado Salsa, Hearty Quinoa and Peanut Soup, and a Two Continent Peanut Vegetable Soup. The National Peanut Board's website also includes delicious recipes for a Cauliflower Soup with Peanut Arugula Pesto, Posole Green Chile Peanut Stew, a Spicy Senegalese Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup and a Creamy Ginger Carrot Soup. With all of these options, you'll never look at that jar of PB the same again.

Soup Recipes for Peanut Lovers


Spicy Peanut Soup with Avocado Salsa - Recipe and Image from The National Peanut Board
Spicy Peanut Soup with Avocado Salsa - Recipe by The National Peanut Board
Ingredients:
Peanut Soup:
2 t
ablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 red onion, minced
1 leek, cleaned and minced
1/2 cup minced celery
2 cups peeled, cubed sweet potato
2 cups freshly chopped tomato
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle pepper in adobo
2 cups peanut butter, smooth
2 quarts chicken stock
Bouquet garni of thyme, parsley and bay
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste.

To garnish:
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped

Avocado Salsa:
1/2 red onion, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
2 avocados, pitted, peeled and cubed to 1/2 inch dice
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon minced jalapeno
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
In a large soup pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. When butter foams, add red onion, leek and celery. Sweat down for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sweet potato, tomato, curry and chipotle. Cook for five minutes.

Stir peanut butter into the pot. Add chicken stock and bouquet garni and bring to a boil. Simmer and cook for twenty minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft. Add cream. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Puree soup while still warm in batches in a blender, taking extreme care not to overfill the blender. Once pureed, pass the soup through a fine mesh strainer and season. Heat it up when you are ready to serve and garnish each bowl with a tablespoon of avocado salsa and some roasted peanuts.

Mix all ingredients and season the mixture. Snugly cover with plastic wrap for later use.
 

6 servings 

Recipe created by Hugh Acheson


Hearty Quinoa and Peanut Soup - Recipe and Image from The National Peanut Board
Hearty Quinoa and Peanut Soup - Recipe by The National Peanut Board
Ingredients:  
1 c quinoa
2 tbsp achiote-infused oil
1c white onion, finely chopped
½ tsp ground cumin
2 oz. creamy cheese (or feta), crumbled
2 tsp salt
2 medium Russet potatoes, small dice
1 ¼ c water
3 c milk
2 oz. unsalted peanuts, finely ground
4 tsp lime juice
1 serrano pepper, finely minced
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

Preparation:
Place quinoa in a medium-sized saucepan and cook dry, while stirring, over medium heat until the quinoa has a nutty aroma and begins to pop slightly. When the quinoa has toasted, add 6 cups of water; bring to a boil over high heat. Lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain in a colander and reserve.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the cumin and sauté briefly.


Add half of the crumbled cheese and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the salt, potatoes, 1 ¼ cups water and 3 cups milk; simmer until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.

Stir in the quinoa and the ground peanuts. Add remaining cheese and stir to mix for 2 to 5 minutes. Thin with more milk if the soup is too thick. Adjust seasoning with lime juice to taste and garnish with Serrano pepper and cilantro.


Two Continent Peanut Vegetable Soup - Recipe and Image from The National Peanut Board
Two Continent Peanut Vegetable Soup - Recipe by The National Peanut Board
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp canola oil
½ cup onion, finely diced
½ cup celery, finely diced
2 tsp garlic, minced
2 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter
2 qts vegetable broth, canned
4 cups fresh kale (collards or spinach), chopped
2 cups sweet potatoes, unpeeled, diced
1 cup corn, fresh, frozen or canned
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
Hot sauce to taste
10 Tbsp salted peanuts
Option: add 6 oz grilled, diced Portuguese Liguria or other well seasoned sausage

Preparation:
In large stockpot, with cover, heat oil. Cook onion, celery and garlic, over medium-low heat, for 10-15 minutes, or until soft. Stir in peanut butter until thoroughly combined with vegetables.


Add broth and bring to boil. Add kale, bring to boil again, reduce heat, cover and cook 10-15 minutes. Add potatoes, salt and pepper; cover and cook additional 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

Add corn; turn off heat. Add hot sauce to taste. Let sit 5 minutes.

To serve, ladle soup into bowls, adding 1 Tbsp peanut to each serving.


Have you ever made soups with peanuts?
Seriously Soupy Serena

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

White Bean Chicken Chili

White Bean Chicken Chili - Seriously Soupy
This past weekend turned out to be the weekend of minor injuries. A changing table fell on my foot (ouch!), a blade cut my finger as I was making icing for my daughter's b-day (double ouch!) and then the worst one of them all: I rubbed my eyes after cutting a HOT Jalapeño pepper - causing the worst burning sensation (mental note: when cutting peppers don't rub your eyes immediately after!). Once the water washed the pepper out of my eyes and I stopped cursing the soup I was ready to continue and make this white chili. Obviously you know that I added hot peppers, but I also added some red pepper flakes, green peppers, zucchini, chicken breasts and some flavorings (dill, bay leaves, rosemary, etc) for a light, but tasty alternative to a traditional chili. When it was all said and done, the soup actually needed more spice – but I wouldn’t have been able to tell by the way it burned by eyes. Enjoy, but prepare with caution!


White Bean Chicken Chili
Ingredients:
3-4 cups of water
4 chicken breasts, washed and cut into quarters

2 cups of dry white beans
1 zucchini, cut up
1 yellow onion, peeled and cut up
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
3-4 bay leaves
Bunch of fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon of dill
1/4 teaspoon of rosemary1/4 teaspoon of chili powder
1/2 Jalapeño pepper
1 green pepper, cut up

salt and pepper

Directions:

Soak white beans for 2-3 hour or until soft. Add water to a pot on a low heat. Cut up the onions and garlic and add them to the pot, along with the chili powder, sage, dill, rosemary and bay leaves. Cover and let boil. Add the white beans and cover, cooking for about an hour and a half or so. Add the zucchini, chicken breasts, Jalapeño pepper, green pepper and cover. Let cook for another 30 minutes. Taste with salt and pepper and serve.


How have you made your white chicken chili?
Seriously Soupy Serena

Friday, February 11, 2011

SmartBran™ Curried Squash Soup

SmartBran™ Curried Squash Soup
I recently learned more about Nature's Path and their line of cereals and products at The Cooking Experience a few weeks ago. A family-owned company, I've been a fan of their healthy cereals and was excited to learn that they also featured recipes on their site such as this Curried Squash Soup by Lorna Sass, the award-winning cookbook author of Whole Grains, Every Day, Every Way and Whole Grains for Busy People. A simple recipe, this soup makes soup making easy by using frozen vegetables (though I prefer fresh - when possible), curry powder, cilantro, and the fiber-rich SmartBran™cereal. Never having made my soups with cereal I'm interested to see how this recipe comes together and adds a new dimension to my soup making.
SmartBran™ Curried Squash Soup
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 
  • 1 tbs. vegetable oil
  • 4 tsp. Madras-style (mild) curry powder
  • 2 pkg. (12-oz. each) frozen, pureed, unseasoned squash
  • 4 c. vegetable broth
  • 1 c. SmartBran™ cereal
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 tbs. finely chopped cilantro, for garnish 
Directions: 
  1. In a 3-quart, heavy soup pot, heat oil over medium heat.
  2. Add curry powder and stir for 10 seconds. Immediately set both blocks of frozen squash and into pot.
  3. Pour in broth and add SmartBran™. Bring mixture to a boil.
  4. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Stir well, breaking up any blocks of squash.
  5. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until all squash is defrosted and all SmartBran™ cereal has dissolved and thickened soup, about 2 more minutes.
  6. Ladle into soup plates. Garnish each portion generously with cilantro. 
Have you ever used cereal in your soups?

Seriously Soupy Serena

Friday, February 4, 2011

Sweet Potato and Split Pea Soup

Sweet Potato and Split Pea Soup - Seriously Soupy
This winter I have been saying use what you have at home to make soups since virtually any combination of ingredients can be made into a tasty brothy delight. Without wanting to spend money on this weeks soup, I decided to use some yellow split peas I had in my cupboard and two sweet potatoes. I also added in some carrots, onions, garlic and some flavorings (bay leaves, sage, and dill) for a creamy and delicious winter soup. This soup can also be easily modified to use lentils or green split peas instead of the yellow ones or regular potatoes instead of sweet potatoes. Or you might just want to create a simple yellow split pea soup where you don't have to blend the ingredients - whatever combination of ingredients you have, try it out. You'll be amazed at your own Soupy creations.

Sweet Potato and Split Pea Soup
Ingredients:
3-5 cups of water, approximately
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut
2 cups of dry split peas, soaked for 2 hours
1/2 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2-3 stalks of carrots, chopped up
2-3 bay leaves
 handful of fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon of dill

Directions:
Soak the beans for 2 hours or until tender. Add 3 cups of water to a pot on a low flame. Cut up the garlic and onions and add them to the pot. Let boil and add the split peas, bay leaves, sage and dill. Cover and let cook for 30 minutes. Cut up the potatoes and the carrots and add them to the pot. Add some salt and pepper and cover for another 30 minutes. Check on the soup periodically, stirring and tasting as you go. After about 45 minutes (or when peas are completely tender), let cook and then turn off the flame. Use a hand blender or place into a blender and puree the soup. Enjoy!


Enjoy!


What soup are you making this weekend?

Seriously Soupy Serena

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2010: The Soups That Were and More to Come!

Happy New Year! - Image Credit: brainz.org
2010 was an exciting time for soup! I made some simple recipes like ribollita that I never created before and interesting soups like Russian beef and cabbage soup using stock from Brooklyn Bouillon that I never thought I would make. There were also a lot of interesting opportunities - getting to interview Rachel Ray, making a soup video with Amy Cao of Amy Blogs Chow, writing for A Child Grows in Brooklyn, Mom Trends, Young Urban Moms, What's The Soup, Food2 and Top Ten Dishes and having a soup party where I was finally able to have people test out my soup other than Mr. Soupy and my fam. I participated in the FoodBuzz Project Food Blog Challenge, the Foodie Link's Fall Recipe Event, the Iron Foodie Challenge, the First Annual Souperama and the Prospect Park Farm Soup Cook-Off. With all of these exciting prospects, 2011 is already looking like it is going to be an exciting and unexpected new year - starting off by teaching a soup class at the Brooklyn Cookery on January 9th and sponsoring a soup contest with FoodieLink at Jimmy's No. 43. Talks of selling the soup are in the works as well as a soup tour of NYC!

Of course, 2010 would be nothing without the recipes from my amazing soupy contributors. Thanks to the delicious contributions from Jessica Hulett of Blind Cavefish; Emily Mak of Eating with EMak; Brenda Abdelall of Eau de Spice; Kathleen of Deja Vu Cook; Sanura Weathers of My Life Runs on Food; Dari Litchman of Papi's Mami and Joan Gioe of The Panini Press Blog, the recipes on Soupy included more variety and added a diverse perspective to the site. For that, I am eternally grateful and hope they could be a part of Soupy 2011 as well as other fans of soup that have recipes they would love to share. 

As we start this new year, I also wanted to take the time to reflect on some of my favorite soup recipes from 2010 and share with you a list of my soupy resolutions for 2011. Happy New Year!


Soup Recipes from 2010:
Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup
1. Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup - I originally created this soup for my one-year anniversary party in October. This sweet and savory soup used a combination of seasonal vegetables (leeks, turnips, spaghetti squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc) that are marinated in olive oil, salt and pepper. This easy recipe also uses fresh herbs and organic turkey that turned out as a healthy variation to a standard chili.
Hummus Soup
2. Hummus Soup - An unlikely favorite, hummus soup is not only a water-down version of hummus but a delicious garbanzo bean soup that can also be varied. Later in the year, I made a turkey and chickpea soup and a roasted red pepper and hummus soup in the post hummus, three ways. It is also interesting making three different versions of a soup - how many new flavors develop after only altering a few ingredients. 
Borscht
3. Borscht Recipe - A classic soup that I actually never tried before. I learned that it can be served hot or cold and is a traditional soup from Central and Eastern Europe. I combined elements of two soup recipes that resulted in a delicious and sweet beet soup.

Tomato Basil and Carrot Soup
4. Tomato Basil and Carrot Soup with Gnocchi - I'm a big fan of tomato soup but I was looking to vary the classic recipe. I used some simple ingredients that I had at home (carrots, gnocchi, basil) to switch up the flavors that resulted in a chunky and filing new tomato soup.

Malaysian Mutton Soup
5. Malaysian Mutton Soup - The first lamb soup that I ever made on Soupy, this mutton soup was created for Project Food Blog's second challenge. We were asked to create a recipe out of our comfort zone as well as from another country. I decided on using lamb and found an amazing recipe that also used spices I have never used (cardamon pods and fenugreek) and methods of preparation (not in a traditional pot) that made the challenge even more interesting. Part of 2010 was about trying something new and this unfamiliar soup certainly lived up to that mantra.
Vegetable Wonton Soup
6. Vegetable Wonton Soup - One of my favorite soups to eat out, I made my own wonton soup using mushrooms, carrots, spinach, bok choy and bamboo shoots, wonton wrappers, and a base of cabbage. After some fumbling - and some broken wontons - I finally ended up with a hearty bowl of soup.



7. Russian Beef and Cabbage Soup - As I mentioned above, I created this soup recipe using Brooklyn Bouillon, a cage-free, locally-sourced and produced bouillon created by Rachael Mamane. I had the pleasure to meet Rachael after she won a soup contest on the site. Using her recipe, I also created this recipe for the anniversary soup party that also ended up being the second favorite recipe of the night. Using grass-fed beef, cabbage, tomatoes, demi-glace and various vegetables, this rich soup was also enhanced thanks to the vibrant flavors from the bouillon. To learn more about Rachael, please visit Brooklyn Bouillon
Chestnut, Celery and Apple Soup
8. Chestnut, Celery and Apple Soup - Emily of Brooklyn Cookery shared this Daniel Boulud soup recipe with me, which I also decided to make for Thanksgiving. Using celery instead of celeriac root, Fiji apples, crushed chestnuts and cream, this velvety and luxurious soup is definitely one to try out this winter.
Roasted Eggplant and White Bean Soup
9. Roasted Eggplant and White Bean Soup - Created for the 'First Annual Souperama' at Jimmy's No. 43, this low-fat and healthy soup is essentially eggplant and white beans with basil, mint, broth and some onions. Other than the cooking time involved to roast the eggplants, this soup is also an easy recipe to try out. 
Green Tea-Infused Melon Soup
10.  Green Tea-Infused Melon Soup - Prior to starting Soupy, I was never a fan of chilled soup, or really, I never really gave it a try. I liked gazpacho but other than that I would stick to eating traditional soups. Since I create soups every week throughout the year, I'm not always excited about making a hot soup when it's 100 degrees outside. This year I made the traditional chilled favorite - gazpacho - but also experimented with fruit soups like the watermelon and lime soup and using a cantaloupe and making three different soups from it. An unexpected favorite was the green-tea infused melon soup that infused apricots, green tea, honey, lemon and ginger with the cantaloupe. A simple way to enhance cantaloupe and mix-up the smoothie/salad routine of the summer.


10 Soups to Try in 2011:
Some people are shocked that I can have a blog that is dedicated solely to soup making. I've heard comments like "Are there really enough soups to cover a soup a week." Well, with books dedicated to soup recipes like 500 soups and blogs like Soup Chick that solely focus on soup making, I think I have only just begun. Not only are there so many variations of a given recipe but there are regional soups, seasonal soups, International soups and new creations to make up. To get me started or at least a little focused, I devised New Years Resolutions soup list that I want to try this year - hopefully they will make their way on the site sooner rather than later.


1. Goulash, traditional Hungarian soup
2. Clam Chowder - both Manhattan and New England
3. Pho Bang, national soup of Vietnam
4. Avgolemono
5. Pickle Soup
6. Bisque - Lobster and/or Shrimp
7. Pappa al Pomodoro Soup (Bread and Tomato Soup)
8. Coconut and Shrimp Curry Soup
9. Stocks - Beef, Fish, Mushroom
10. Pork and Mushroom Noodle Soup
11. Potage
12. Moroccan Lamb and Couscous Soup
13. Gumbo
14. Beer and Cheese Soup
15. Beef and Barley Soup
16. Czarnina, Polish Duck Soup
17. Chilled Pea Soup
18. Crab Soup
19. Caldo Verde, a Portugeuse soup
20. Kimchi stew

What soups do you want to try in the new year?

Happy New Year!

Seriously Soupy Serena

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Mushroom Barely Soup with Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Mushroom Barely Soup with Roasted Brussel Sprouts - Seriously Soupy
After reading the title of this post I realized how much of a nightmare this might be for a child. Of course that is also a huge generalization; kids today have far more sophisticated palates. But, for me, the one veggie that I would never try, no matter if it was fried in butter or dipped in chocolate was brussel sprouts. Of course I later learned about the power of the sprout and really love to eat them roasted. For this soup, I thought they would make a nice addition a classic mushroom and barley that also included carrots, celery and leeks (had them around). This recipe was also made with an all-green roasted veggie broth that included broccoli, kale, celery, beet tops, and spinach. I also had these veggies lying around from the soup party and the soup cook-off that also needed to either be tossed or made into broth. Obviously, I choose the later. If you don't want to make the all-green broth, you can always use a simple veggie broth or rely on good-old fashioned fresh herbs. I hope you enjoy this one, brussel sprouts and all!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Soup 101: Essential Tools for Soup Making

The Ultimate Soup Pot - Le Creuset

By Joan Gioe, Contributing Writer to Seriously Soupy 

Soup is essentially liquid in a pot. In order to make it something special, the right equipment can do just that. 

The tools of the trade listed below will help transform your soup in to liquid gold.

1. A large heavy pot.
This is the most important and should not be skimped on. My personal favorite (in my opinion the Holy Grail of all things soupy) is from Le Creuset. It is the quintessential soup pot due to it's remarkably even iron heat conduction and silky smooth, completely non-reactive enamel. It comes in about a million hues and while you'll pay a pretty penny for it, you will not be sorry. It's soup's "little black dress." Also on my soup pot wish list: Calphalon's Unison Nonstick 4-Quart Pot
and the Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized Eco-Friendly Nonstick 8-Quart Pot.

2. A blender.
The necessity for your creamy soups or purées. Be it a stand alone or immersion/stick variety, without this gadget your Potato and Leek soup is nothing more than runny mashed potatoes.


Immersions are key to quick in-pot blends although cordless models tend to lack the oomph of the plug ins. Stand blenders are always a fail safe way to go. I recommend blending in two to three batches with a dish towel over the lid to avoid turning your kitchen into a Jackson Pollak.

3. A ladle.
How can you serve soup without a soup ladle?! Of course it's possible but it's just not right (and probably way too messy!).


Collection of soup bowls from Williams-Sonoma (Photo Credit: Trendir.com)
 4. The perfect soup bowl.
Tureen? Ceramic crock? Broth bowl? So many choices! So many soups!


In order to accentuate your soup's potential, the perfect bowl is a must. The style and design have as much to do with your soup as the taste itself. Like the saying goes, "We eat with our eyes first." The two most important thing to consider when scouring the aisles for the perfect presentation are as follows:

a. What kind of soup am I serving?
You don't want to serve lobster bisque in your collection of over-sized coffee mugs. Just like you wouldn't serve French onion in your Great Grandmother's fine china. Be creative, but also be realistic.


b. Decor.
Your soup bowls are an extension of your soup which is an extension of YOU. Keep with your dining room or kitchen theme. Your decor speaks volumes of who you are and can really be a window into what kind of soups you will feel most comfortable experimenting with.


A good spoon to is essential to enjoy soup
5. Spoons.
Perhaps this one is a little obvious, but no bowl of soup would be complete without a soup spoon. We love these RSVP Endurance Monty's Soup Spoons (Set of Six), the Steel Alpha Round Soup Spoons (Set of 12), and these Chinese Soup Spoons (box of 24). 

Joan Gioe is the mother of one amazing toddler and wife of one amazing husband. She credits him for getting her back on the writing horse. You can read her tribute to another time and place on her blog, Dear, Daughter in which she chronicles life events in the style of old fashion love letters to her 22 month old daughter. Joan's favorite soup is a good-old fashioned chicken.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Soup Recipes from South America: Part 1

Locro de habas or fava bean soup by Laylita

I really enjoyed learning about soups from the UK in last month's soups around the world series. Now, we are traveling to South America to learn about soup recipes in a two-part series. I started with Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru since I spent some time in Argentina and Chile and vividly remember the food. There were empanandas and pizza and fish and pasta and avocados and wine and ice cream (there was lots of ice cream!). There was a lot eating going on but sadly not any soup testing. It's too bad cause it looks like I missed out on trying some spicy and vegetable-rich soups like Locro, Sopa de Sorrel, and Estefo. I am definitely inspired after learning about these recipes and I hope that you share my interest and try some of these new recipes yourself.

Note: As I mentioned in the UK post, this list is by no means complete, so please feel free to add your favorite South American soup in the comments section. And if you have a South American soup recipe that you would like to include in part-two, please email me at seriouslysoupy@gmail.com.

Sopa de Sorrel by Argentina with Love
Soups from Argentina:
Sopa de Sorrel - The name of this soup sounds inviting, even though its main ingredient is a bitter herb. A popular soup throughout Argentina, this sopa can be made with spinach, ham and bacon as well as various vegetables. Popular expat/blogger From Argentina with Love created this authentic recipe that includes fennel, potatoes, heavy cream and mustard. Sounds like a great chunky soup to test out this winter. 

Argentine Mussel Soup- While people rave about Argentina for its meat, the fish isn't too bad either. This mussel soup recipe by recipes4us.uk includes saffron, fish stock, rice, along with lemon juice for a quick meal-like soup.


Soups from Chile:
Chilean Soup with Dumplings - A comforting soup made by Cuisine with Chilean is a two-part recipe in how to make dumplings and a beef soup. The doughy dumplings are made with water, flour, and olive oil and the soup includes chicken stock, beef, potatoes, eggs, and peas that CC describes is perfect for a winter day.

Estefao Chilean Soup - A blend of caspicum (plant), corn, green beans, pumpkin and potatoes make up this Chilean stew by blogger Vida. Topped with sambal olek (marinated crushed chillies), this authentic recipe sounds like quite the hearty and delicious meal.

Brazilian Shrimp Soup by Annie's Eats
Soups from Brazil:
Brazilian Shrimp Soup - A gorgeous soup by Annie Eats, this tomato-based Brazilian soup is a healthy and rich shrimp soup that also includes long-grain rice and coconut milk. I love the color an textures of this soup that is enhanced with the cilantro, red peppers, and chunks of shrimp.

Brazilian Black Bean Soup - Black bean soup is a classic recipe - but this one by Pepper Fool is anything but with the addition of rum, green onions, and hot red chiles. A nice spicy soup that can modified to your tastes that also includes black beans, ham and cheese. Classic with a Brazilian twist, I like that. 

Locro - by whats4eats.com

Soups from Peru:
Locro (Peruvian Potato and Cheese Soup) - A thick soup, Locro is filled with potatoes, cheese, milk and garlic. Whats4eats.com also suggests to use cheese and avocados to top off the soup. Locro is also popular in Argentina and Ecuador that is usually a vegetable and meat based. It can also included beans like this Locro de Hebas or fava bean soup by Laylita.

Peruvian Chicken Soup by Saveur (Photo Credit: Penny De Los Santos)
Peruvian Chicken Soup - Featured on Saveur.com, this Peruvian Chicken soup recipe is a traditional morning meal that is served with hard boiled eggs (specifically in Lima) and egg noodles. The hearty am soup also contains chicken or hen, carrots, ginger, limes, and chile to kick off the day.


What South American soups have you made?
Seriously Soupy Serena

Friday, September 17, 2010

Fun Soup Recipes for KIds

Smile -- It's soup time! Image Credit: http://fotobank.ru/
 10 Super Soup Recipes for Kids

For the most part, kids are picky eaters. No matter how much you try or how finely you chop those veggies; kids have a way of spotting out the green and pushing it aside in disgust or in the form of a fit. As a mom to a two-and-half year old, I've tried to present veggies as they are, then we that didn't work I tried to sneak them into anything I could -- pasta, smoothies, and even mostly recently in a spinach cake. Some were successful attempts, others not as much. One successful method (at least 90% of the time) has been the inclusion of vegetables into soups. I've scoured the web for some of the best recipes for kids (as well as supplied some of my own) -- for their versatility, ease of preparation, tastiness, and of course ease with which your child will eat them. Of course, these are general ideas, so please feel free to share your own soup secrets.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup by Bitchin' Camero
 1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup - Potatoes are generally a go to food for kids, and with its high concentration of Vitamin C, cooper and fiber parents should be serving them quite often. This soup recipe by Bitchin' Camero is touted as a soup for the sports season, but I also think a filling recipe like this would be ideal for kids. Not only does the soup include potatoes but it is 'loaded' with bacon, cheddar cheese, yogurt and spinach. Camero also lists some great suggestions for toppings -- broccoli, salsa, tomatoes, mushrooms to a name a few choices.  

2. Pea Soup - Dubbed as a "kids' favorite," this soup recipe includes carrots, potatoes, broth, celery and ham that is an exciting soup for youngsters and their parents. Also, check out this Spicy Black Eyed-Pea Soup by Seitanic Vegan Heathen (great name!) for a vegan variation on this classic recipe. 

3. Kid's Soup - Simple title, but this soup is vegetable powerhouse that includes all the good stuff that kids need as well as the pasta that they love. I love how it includes zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, corn and peas. I might add some fresh basil or sage to enhance the flavors. 


Carrot Ginger Soup as Featured on Babble
4. Carrot Ginger Soup - Another veggie that some kids don't have a problem eating is carrots. This sweet vegetable is packed with Vitamin C that thanks to the addition of ginger and curry that will boost the flavor. 


Spinach and Corn Soup - Seriously Soupy
5. Spinach and Corn Soup - I've found that spinach can be a difficult food to get my tot to eat (and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone on that one). However, this soup and its combination of sweet corn, cream and herbs dulled down the ever-so-scary green color that was enjoyed by kids under three and even by dads that are over 30.


Sweet Potato and Cranberry Soup - Seriously Soupy
6.  Sweet Potato and Cranberry Soup - I made this soup over the holiday's, but this healthy sweet potato soup is a great treat for your kids year round. Dubbed as a "super food," sweet potatoes are packed with beta cartone and Vitamins A and C. The addition of cranberries (if your kid will eat them) supplies an additional boost of antioxidants and fiber. 

Black-Eyed Peas and Mixed Veggie Soup - Seriously Soupy
7. Black-Eyed Peas and Mixed Veggie Soup - This was a big hit in the Soupy household that I made during the start of the new year. I was shocked as my toddler not only devoured the beans but ate the kale with gusto. The simple seasonings - garlic, celery salt, salt and pepper -- along with leeks and beets made for a healthy and very filling soup. If your child is picky about the kale, omit it -- the black-eyed peas alone will make for a filling and very fiber-rich soup. 

Cauliflower Soup with Tandoori Yogurt by Kahakai Kitchen
8. Cauliflower Soup with Tandoori Yogurt - Cauliflower doesn't have be boring anymore thanks to this brilliant recipe by Deb of Kahakai Kitchen. Originally from the Canyon Ranch Healthy Living Club, this thick and creamy soup is packed with seasonings (cumin, garlic, ginger, etc), leeks, carrots and cauliflower for a healthy and tasty soup for kids of all ages.  

9. Simple Soups for a (Silly) Toddler - Yes, they sure are silly and keeping things simple is definitely the name of the game. I really enjoyed reading this recipe by Scatter the Batter that includes several variations of a chicken/vegetable soup. Scatter suggests starting with a pressure cooker and adding a heaping of veggies (carrots, tomatoes, onions, pumpkin or peas), along with some spices (ginger, garlic, cinnamon, etc). This is a great base to get you started in your soup making since every child is different whose tastes and preferences need to be varied. 

Vegetable Soup by Green Lite Bites
 10. Vegetable Soup - But maybe instead of sneaking veggies, it's better to introduce them early on in their natural form. This vegetable soup by Green Lite Bites is certainly a good way to start.  Packed with leeks, green beans, carrots, beans and fresh herbs, the author noted that this recipe is her son's new favorite and one that I can't wait to try myself.

More Kid-Friendly Soup Ideas:
Mac and Cheese Soup - Pasta + cheese in a soup! What's not to love?
Butternut Squash and Carrot soup - A classic sweet and hearty soup, great for the fall. Also, check out Jessica Hulett's Acorn Squash Soup recipe with the tasty addition of coconut milk, ginger root and cayenne pepper.
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup - A classic chicken soup by What's for Supper Sister, except this one that includes wild rice, almonds, carrots, celery and onions. If it's too rich for you and your little ones, omit the cream and butter.
Cream of Broccoli Soup - If they can get past the green, this soup is sure to please: creamy, rich and delicious. 
Lentil Soup - Another classic, this soup recipe also includes sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots and some peanut butter.

Note: Some of these recipes include spices and ingredients that a lot of kids won't try -- despite how blended together or disguised a recipe is. If your child is picky, start slow - maybe by using salt and pepper - to gradually building up their taste buds. 



What soups do you make for your kids?


Seriously Soupy Serena