Soup

Well I am totally getting back into soup season. I love a bowl of soup for lunch, or even for some evenings. There are so many varieties that you can do.

I tend to use what leftover vegetables I have in the fridge that need to be used up, but sometimes I do plan what I am going to make to. It is my go to batch cook, which I tend to make enough for 3 meals, use two in the week and then freeze one, so that when you are super busy, or you just do not feel like cooking, then you have a delicious and healthy meal ready to eat.

So for most of the soups, I do the basic, stock, onion, carrot, some people add celery into the basic soup, but it is one vegetable, I am not that fond of, so tend to leave that out. I then add whatever flavours I like, so sometimes chilli or curry flavours. Then I add what vegetables I have left over.

I do tend to choose the flavours to go with the vegetables, so if I have mushrooms and broccoli, I would probably choose just stock a little chilli, maybe some garlic, italian herbs.

If I have vegetables like pumpkin or beetroot, then I would roast them first, as the flavour is so much better and as I have a sweet tooth, then roasting them brings out the sweetness.

Trying new flavours is great, so the soup above I used turmeric and roasted pumpkin. Using fresh herbs and spices where possible is another fantastic option. Fresh turmeric tastes completely different to the dried variety and although I really love both, the fresh spice, gives a milder different flavour.

Adding protein to the soup is another way to ensure you balance the meal and make the soup a more filling meal. Carbohydrates are quick release energy, whereas Proteins are slow release, so keep you fuller for longer. So try adding chickpeas, kidney beans, butter beans, or green or red lentils. Remember if they are tinned, then they are already cooked, so only need 10 minutes to be heated. If they are from the dried variety, then make sure you wash beans thoroughly. With red lentils, they tend to make a soup thicker and go a little mushy, which I love. If you want a lentil to maintain its shape and texture, then use green or black.

So check out my Soups page and start getting adventurous with your winter warmer!

Let me know if there are any recipes that you like and if you make it, then send me a picture!