Soup is satisfying when you're trying to eat healthy, especially during the colder months and soups can help you meet your diet goals. Here are some easy, quick & satisfying soup recipes:
Minestone with Endive & Pepperoni (6 servings, about 1-1/2 cups each):
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped fresh or frozen (thawed) bell peppers, any color
5 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2/3 cup whole-wheat elbow noodles or other small pasta
1 pound frozen mixed soup (or stew) vegetables (including potatoes, carrots, celery, onion), thawed, chopped
1 cup frozen baby lima beans, thawed
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
1/2 cup diced pepperoni (I would use turkey pepperoni)
3 cups lightly packed coarsely chopped curly endive or chard, tough stems removed
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Preparation
1.Heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add broth, oregano and thyme; bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook for 3 minutes less than the package directions.
2.Add mixed soup (or stew) vegetables and lima beans. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil until the vegetables are almost tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, pepperoni and endive (or chard); return to a boil. Adjust the heat and simmer until the endive (or chard) is just tender, about 5 minutes. Season with pepper and garnish with Parmesan, if desired.
Ravioli & Vegetable Soup (5 servings, about 2 cups each):
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion mix, thawed and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed crushed red pepper, or to taste (optional)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
1 15-ounce can vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups hot water
1 teaspoon dried basil or marjoram
1 6- to 9-ounce package fresh or frozen cheese (or meat) ravioli, preferably whole-wheat
2 cups diced zucchini, (about 2 medium)
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation
1.Heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pepper-onion mix, garlic and crushed red pepper (if using) and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, broth, water and basil (or marjoram); bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add ravioli and cook for 3 minutes less than the package directions. Add zucchini; return to a boil. Cook until the zucchini is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Season with pepper.
Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Thin with broth before reheating, if desired.
Salmon Chowder (6 servings, about 1-1/2 cups each):
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1/3 cup chopped celery
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups water
1 12-ounce salmon fillet
2 1/2 cups frozen cauliflower florets, thawed and coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or scallions, or 1 1/2 tablespoons dried chives
1 1/3 cups instant mashed potato flakes (see Note), or 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, or 2 teaspoons dried tarragon
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation
1.Heat oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrot and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables just begin to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add broth, water, salmon, cauliflower and chives (or scallions) and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, maintaining a gentle simmer, until the salmon is just cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the salmon to a clean cutting board. Flake into bite-size pieces with a fork.
2.Stir potato flakes (or leftover mashed potatoes), dill (or tarragon) and mustard into the soup until well blended. Return to a simmer. Add the salmon and reheat. Season with salt and pepper.
Tips & Notes:
Notes: Instant mashed potato flakes is not a product that we typically use in our recipes, but we love how it gives creamy texture to soup without adding extra fat. Look for a brand that has the fewest ingredients possible (and therefore little to no artificial additives or flavoring). At our local market, the store brand was the best choice.
Sweet & Sour Beef-Cabbage Soup (6 servings, about 1-3/4 cups each):
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound lean (90% or leaner) ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion mix, thawed, chopped
1 medium Golden Delicious or other sweet-tart cooking apple, unpeeled, diced
6 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
1 15-ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon paprika, preferably Hungarian sweet
3 cups coarsely chopped Savoy, or green cabbage
1-2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation
1.Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add beef, caraway seeds and thyme and cook, stirring and breaking up the beef with a spoon, until it is mostly browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in pepper-onion mix and apple; cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes more.
2.Stir in broth, tomatoes, honey and paprika and adjust the heat so the mixture boils gently. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors. Stir in cabbage and cook just until barely tender, 3 to 4 minutes more. Season with vinegar to taste, salt and pepper.
