Soup, Soup, Soup

I can’t get enough of it (as you well know if you read this blog – I do a soup consolidation post every winter).  Warm, nutritious, satisfying, easy to make, and delicious – what’s not to like?  I mix things up with garnishes….a grating of cheese, a sprinkle of toasted nuts, a drizzle of excellent olive oil or nut oil (hazelnut, walnut, sesame), a dab of creme fraiche, or a spoonful of pesto….you get the idea.  It’s fun to add a crispy version of whatever veggies are in the soup base to perk things up – picture crispy cauliflower as a garnish to a creamy cauliflower soup. Or a shower of chopped fresh herbs. Or a few pieces of crisp, salty meat to elevate something simple to sublime – a few cubes of crunchy, chewy pancetta or bacon finish off a basic mushroom or tomato soup beautifully.

Or, my personal favorite, ladling soup over freshly made croutons – some sort of crusty bread, cubed and sauteed in a bit of olive oil with garlic, finish with a generous sprinkle of salt. So good, they can turn a basic broth into something incredible (add a sprinkle of Parm, and freshly ground black pepper…peasant food at its finest).

I often make a great big pot, we have it for lunch or dinner, then I freeze the rest. Happiness is coming home at 7 pm, thinking there’s nothing for dinner, then remembering the lovely soup you tucked into the freezer a month ago. Label containers carefully (date, contents) for maximum enjoyment, minimal confusion.

Some ideas if you’re hankering for a bowl (I enjoyed two yesterday – split pea for lunch, beef with barley for din, NICE) –

split pea with bacon & herbs

beef with barley

new england clam chowder

manhattan clam chowder

watercress with anchovy crouton

french onion

vegetable with pesto (middle pic)

fish with grilled bread and rouille

quick black bean

portuguese caldo verde

pappa al pomodoro (tomato bread)

quick chicken with bacon, asparagus & truffle oil

matzo ball

tortilla

quick chicken gumbo

avgolemono (Greek egg lemon)

chickpea with rosemary & sage (bottom pic)

tomato with crouton (top pic)

cabbage with gruyere

For more ideas, check out this consolidation of my soup posts.