Recipe: Celeriac & Leek Soup

Adapted From Dishing Up The Dirt

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium leeks (or one large), diced, white and light green parts only
1 small yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium-sized celeriac, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
2 yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
Hefty pinch of salt
4 cups vegetable stock (plus more to thin as needed)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Crème Fraîche, or plain Yogurt for serving
Minced parsley for serving
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large heavy bottom pot over medium high heat. Add the leeks and onion and cook, stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, celeriac, potato and salt. Stir well. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let the soup cool for a few minutes before transferring the soup (you may need to do this in batches) to a high speed blender and pureeing until completely smooth and creamy. (You can use a stick blender here but the soup wont be nearly as smooth and creamy.) Return the soup back to the pot, stir in the lemon juice and taste for seasonings. If the soup seems too thick add more stock or water. Keep the soup on low heat until ready to serve.

Serve with a drizzle of Crème Fraîche, or plain yogurt.

Recipe: Lentil, Cabbage, & Fennel Soup

From Honest Cooking


1 Cup Red Lentils
1 Cup Sliced Cabbage
1 Cup Sliced Fennel(including the stems and fronds)
1 Bay Leaf
2tsp Cumin Seeds
1in Ginger (crushed)
2tsp Ground Coriander
1tsp Turmeric
1/3 Cup canned diced Tomato
1 Green chili/jalapeño, chopped
2 Cups Water
Salt to taste
2Tbs Oil


Wash the lentils and keep aside. Prepare the veggies.
In a pot heat oil and the cumin seeds until it crackles. Add the cabbage and fennel,bay leaf and all the spices,tomato and jalapeños. Saute on medium until well mixed.Add the lentils and continue to stir for about a minute.

Add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Let it cook until the lentils are tender about (15-20 mins). Serve hot!

Recipe: Roasted Red Kuri Squash & Coconut Soup

From The Kitchn

4 to 4 1/2 pounds red Kuri squash
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter
4 cloves garlic
4 small shallots
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger, from a 3-inch long piece
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 dried red chili, about 2 inches long
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)

Heat the oven to 400°F. Use a heavy, sharp knife or cleaver to cut the squash into quarters. Place these quarters in a roasting pan and bake for 1 hour. (Alternate method: Place each squash directly in the oven, whole. Bake for 20 minutes or until soft enough to cut in half with little effort. Cut in quarters, place in a baking dish, and roast for 40 more minutes or until the skin can be easily peeled away from the flesh.)

Put the squash aside for 15 minutes or until it is cool enough to be easily handled. When cool, peel the skin away from the squash flesh. You should have about 3 packed cups of roasted squash.

In a 4-quart or larger pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil or butter over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, shallots, and ginger, and fry in the oil for about a minute. Add the tomato paste and fry for another minute. Turn the heat down and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the shallots are beginning to really soften. Add the curry powder and crumble in the red chili. Fry for another minute, then add the squash. Turn the heat back up to medium and fry the squash with the aromatics for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the coconut milk and chicken broth and bring to a light simmer. Lower the heat and cover the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat and puree the soup with a hand blender, or pour the soup in batches into a blender and carefully puree it there, holding the top down with a towel. Add the salt in 1/2-teaspoon increments, tasting as you go, and stir in the juice of the lime. Serve immediately.

Recipe: Thai Roasted Carrot & Golden Beet Soup

From Floating Kitchen

1 lb golden beets, trimmed and peeled
1 lb carrots, trimmed and peeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tsp. salt, divided
1 tsp. black pepper, divided
1 cup diced yellow onion
2-3 tablespoons red curry paste
4 cups vegetable broth
1 (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.
Roughly chop the beets and carrots into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss them on a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1/2 tsp. each of the salt and black pepper. Transfer to your pre-heated oven and roast until softened, about 30-40 minutes, stirring once halfway through the cooking time. Remove and set aside.

In a large heavy-bottom pot, warm the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the diced onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the red curry paste and the remaining salt and black pepper and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth and the roasted beets and carrots. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until all the vegetables are very soft. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the soup to cool slightly. Then carefully purée the soup using an immersion blender, blender or food processor with the blade attachment. Work in batches as necessary and be careful when transferring hot liquids.

Return the puréed soup to your pot and re-warm it over low-medium heat. Stir in the coconut milk. Taste and adjust for salt and black pepper.

Recipe: Roasted Carrot & Ginger Soup

From Dishing Up The Dirt

1 1/2 pounds carrots (about 6 large carrots) cut into 1 inch pieces (no need to peel)
1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
2 large cloves of garlic, peels left on
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
salt and pepper
olive oil
4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 tablespoons minced ginger
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk (blended before measuring)

Preheat the oven to 400F.
On a large rimmed baking sheet toss the carrots, onion, garlic and thyme with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in the oven and roast until the veggies are golden brown and tender, about 35-45 minutes. Toss halfway through cooking.

Let the veggies slightly cool and then remove the garlic from its skin. Place half of the veggies in a blender with 2 cups of the broth, the ginger and coconut milk. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour the pureed soup into a large pot and keep warm on medium-low heat. Add the remaining veggies and broth to the blender and puree until smooth.

Pour into the soup pot, stir well and keep warm until ready to serve. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.

Recipe: Moroccan Carrot & Lentil Soup

From A Cedar Spoon

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 cups peeled and chopped carrots
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups red lentils, rinsed until water runs clear
1-15 oz can diced tomatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft, about 2 minutes then add the spices and continue to sauté about 4 minutes. Add the carrots and sauté until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes and lentils and stir to combine. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, or until lentils are tender.

You can eat the soup as is with the chunks of carrots, lentils and tomatoes or you can use a handheld immersion blender or regular blender to create a creamy soup. Sometimes I blend half and keep half chunky.

Recipe: Green Tomato Soup With Herbed Oil

Adapted from a recipe on With Food & Love
Serve this soup with a hot sandwich like grilled cheese for a great chilly weather dinner!

1 pound green tomatoes, quartered
1 medium onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups kale, chopped
1 cup broth

Herbed Oil
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 cup olive oil

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Spread the tomatoes out on a sheet pan with the onion and garlic cloves. Drizzle on the 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle them with the salt and pepper. with a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes and flip. Roast for 10 minutes more or until browned and caramelized.
Meanwhile over low-medium simmer together the broth and greens while covered with a lid for 10 minutes.

When the tomatoes and onion are done roasting combine them in a blender with the broth and greens and process until smooth. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired and set aside.

Blanch the parsley for 30 seconds and cool it in an ice bath. Remove the herbs from the water and squeeze the excess water out using your hands. Place the blanched herbs in a blender with the salt and olive oil and process until smooth. Strain the oil through a fine sieve and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Recipe: Slowcooker Chile Verde

From The Kitchn

2 pounds tomatillos, thin, papery skin removed, halved
1 large yellow onion, diced
8 cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapeños, halved lengthwise, seeded, and ribs removed
2 fresh poblano chiles
3 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F. Place the tomatillos, onion, and garlic on a baking sheet. Roast until softened and golden-brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a blender or a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and set aside.

Turn the broiler to high. Place the jalapeños and poblanos on the same baking sheet. Broil until charred and blistered all over, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the peppers to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Let sit to 'steam' for 10 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, remove the seeds, stem, and skin from the poblanos, and remove the skin from the jalapeños. Add both to the blender or food processor.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork with the salt, and brown in 2 to 3 batches until golden-brown all over, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the pork to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.

Pulse the contents of the blender or food processor until coarsely chopped. Add the cilantro and oregano and pulse until mostly smooth. Pour the salsa verde sauce evenly over the pork. Cover and cook until the pork is tender, 7 to 8 hours on the LOW setting, or 4 to 5 hours on the HIGH setting.

Serve the finished pork chile verde over rice or in charred corn tortillas.

Recipe: Zuppa Toscana (Creamy Kale & Potato Soup With Sausage)

From Alaska From Scratch

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound italian sausage
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
4 cups chicken broth
3 small russet potatoes, thinly sliced
2 cups kale, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste

To a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil. Brown the sausage until no longer pink. Add the red pepper flakes, garlic, and onion and cook, stirring often, until the onions a translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken broth, potatoes, and kale. Bring the broth to a simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat, stir in the cream, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

Recipe: Simple Chili With Fresh Shelling Beans

Rae's Recipe!

1lb ground beef (optional)
1-2 Bell Peppers, chopped
1 jalapeno, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 sweet onion, chopped
About 3 cups shelled fresh beans
2 14.5oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
Salt to taste

Add your shelled beans to a pot with one clove of garlic, and simmer them with just enough water to cover for 20-25min. Set Aside.

In a thick-bottomed pot, saute chopped onion, bell peppers, and minced jalapeno over medium heat until the vegetables start to soften. Add in minced garlic and spices and cook for one minute, stirring frequently. Add in ground beef (if using) and saute, breaking up the beef, until it is no longer pink.

Fold in crushed tomatoes, reserved shelling beans, and water, and simmer gently over medium heat until all of the flavors have combined-about 15min. Add salt to taste.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, grated jack cheese, and minced cilantro
The chili will taste even better after sitting in your fridge over night!

Recipe: Fresh Shell Bean & Tomato Stew

Adapted from Food & Wine Magazine

1-2 cups fresh shelling beans, shelled
1 quart water
2 garlic cloves, halved
2 thyme sprigs, plus 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves (or herbs of your choice)
Pinch of baking soda
1 pound tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt

In a saucepan, combine the beans, water, garlic, thyme sprigs and baking soda and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until the beans are tender, 30 minutes.

Drain the beans, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid in the saucepan. Discard the garlic and thyme sprigs. Add the beans and tomatoes. Simmer the stew over moderate heat until the tomatoes are hot, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Add the thyme leaves and season with salt, then serve.

Recipe: Lentil, Cabbage, & Fennel Soup

From Honest Cooking


1 Cup Red Lentils
1 Cup Sliced Cabbage
1 Cup Sliced Fennel(including the stems and fronds)
1 Bay Leaf
2tsp Cumin Seeds
1in Ginger (crushed)
2tsp Ground Coriander
1tsp Turmeric
1/3 Cup canned diced Tomato
1 Green chili/jalapeño, chopped
2 Cups Water
Salt to taste
2Tbs Oil


Wash the lentils and keep aside. Prepare the veggies.
In a pot heat oil and the cumin seeds until it crackles. Add the cabbage and fennel,bay leaf and all the spices,tomato and jalapeños. Saute on medium until well mixed.Add the lentils and continue to stir for about a minute.

Add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Let it cook until the lentils are tender about (15-20 mins). Serve hot!

Recipe: Redeeming Green Soup With Lemon & Cayenne

From Cookie & Kate

This weather has us craving SOUP. This recipe is very forgiving and you can sub in just about any leafy green!

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish

2 large yellow onions, chopped

1 teaspoon salt, divided

2 tablespoons plus 3 cups water, divided

¼ cup arborio rice, rinsed (I used brown arborio rice)

1 large bunch chard

14 cups gently packed spinach or baby cooking greens

4 cups vegetable broth

Big pinch of cayenne pepper, to taste (I used over ¼ teaspoon)

1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste

Serve with (optional): cooked brown basmati rice and cooked chickpeas

First prepare the greens by removing the ribs from the chard and coarsely chopping or tearing the leaves. Trim any tough stems from the spinach/baby greens and roughly chop the leaves.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low, add 2 tablespoons water and cover the skillet. Cook until the onions are greatly reduced and have a deep caramel color, 25 to 30 minutes. 

Cook the arborio rice: While the onions are cooking, combine the remaining 3 cups water and ¾ teaspoon salt in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Add rice and bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes. When the rice has cooked for 15 minutes, stir in the chard greens. Return to a simmer; cover and cook for 10 minutes.

When the onions are caramelized, stir a little of the simmering liquid into them. Then add the onion mixture to the rice along with the spinach, vegetable broth and cayenne. Return to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring once, until the spinach is tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes more.

Puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender until perfectly smooth, or in a regular blender in batches. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Taste and add more lemon juice, sea salt or cayenne pepper, if desired. Garnish each bowl of soup with a drizzle of olive oil.

Serve in bowls over cooked rice and chickpeas for a more complete meal.