Soup’s On
Fall is the beginning of soup season. From now through the winter months, a pot of soup is an easy answer to, “What’s for dinner?”
From a cook’s point of view, there are many reasons for making soup. First and foremost, it’s easy to make. Chock full of such ingredients as vegetables, lentils, beans, and perhaps meat, soup can make a hearty entrée, especially if bolstered with a salad and bread, preferably whole-grain. With a little advance planning, soup can last through several meals.
From the diner’s perspective, homemade soup has more flavor and more nutrients than any soup in a can. Homemade soup is also a good way to control weight, especially since you can control the fat, sodium and calorie content. Soup can create a full feeling with a minimum of calories. It can keep you feeling full longer than starchy, higher-calorie foods like potatoes and refined breads, especially if made with hearty ingredients like lentils, beans and whole-grain rice or pasta. . A vegetable soup can make a particularly satisfying dinner. Any recipe can be varied to accommodate what’s available at the market, what you have in the refrigerator and individual tastes. For a purely vegetarian dish, use a vegetable broth; otherwise, a low-sodium, low-fat chicken broth will provide more body. Spinach and other greens add color, crunch and nutrients. Add some leftover meat or tofu for a protein-enriched soup. Hot pepper flakes, a few drops of hot sauce, or some chopped chilies can be added for those who like their soup spicy.
Using a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and spices makes a soup loaded with nutrients yet low in calories. In addition to containing powerful anti-cancer substances called phytochemicals, vegetables will help you reach the ideal goal of nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Use the following recipe as a guide, adding and subtracting for what’s in season and what you like.
Hearty Vegetable Soup
Makes 8 servings Per serving: 119 calories, less than 1 g. total fat (0 g. saturated fat), 24 g. carbohydrate, 6 g. protein, 6 g. dietary fiber, 578 mg. sodium.
- 2 medium zucchini (sliced thin)
- 2 medium carrots (sliced 1/4 inch thick)
- 10 mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 ribs celery (sliced 1/4 inch thick)
- 1 can (15.5 oz. corn, drained)
- 1 russet potato (peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks)
- 1/2 lb. green beans cut in half diagonally
- 4 cups 1 qt. reduced-sodium vegetable broth
- 3 cups canned crushed tomatoes (drained)
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 Tbsp. chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 2 tsp. dried)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano (or 2 tsp. dried)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Directions:
In a heavy, large pot, place all ingredients except salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook, checking that contents remain at a simmer, until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
With a slotted spoon, transfer 3 cups of vegetables to a blender or food processor. Add 1 cup cooking liquid. Purée until smooth, then return to the pot of soup.
Stir to incorporate purée into the soup and season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat through and serve.
The Author:
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $82 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its Web site, http://www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
Beef Barley Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons oil
750g steak
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
2 carrots
1 potato
2 bay leaves
2 litres veggie stock
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup pearl barley
2 tablespoons parsley
1 pkt (60g) french onion soup
Directions:
Brown steak in oil, garlic and paprika add rest of ingredients and simmer uncovered for 1 hour or until barley is tender and meat cooked, remove bay leaves and serve with garlic bread.
The Beef Barley Soup recipe sounds absolutely delicious! I love how the steak is browned with garlic and paprika before adding the rest of the ingredients. It must add such amazing flavor to the soup. And the combination of vegetables like onions, carrots, and potatoes along with pearl barley sounds perfect for a hearty and comforting meal. Simmering everything for an hour to let the flavors meld together is a great idea. The addition of Worcestershire sauce and French onion soup mix must take this soup to a whole new level. I can imagine serving it with some freshly baked garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try it out!