RECYCLE & REPURPOSE

I love DIY projects, especially those that give new life, purpose and beauty to old things!

September 04, 2012

Hearty Veggie Soup

 This wonderful soup is as delicious as it is versatile!
The base is potatoes, white beans, garlic & tomatoes.  After that you can add pretty much anything you have in your fridge.
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 Medium russet potatoes, cubed into bite size cubes
3 Carrots, peeled and chopped
2 zucchini or squash
3 Galic cloves, finely chopped
1 Cup chopped parsley or cilantro
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 white or yellow onion, chopped
1 14.5-oz can petite chopped tomatoes, you could add fresh as well.
1 15oz can Cannellini (or white) beans
8 cups water or broth (I use water), and sometimes a splash of red wine.
 Salt & Pepper to taste.
1.  Chop and measure everything.  It's so much easier when you have everything ready to go in!
2.  Heat the oil and add the garlic and red pepper flakes to a pot big enough to fit all the ingredients and be able to stir.
3.  When garlic starts to brown and you can smell it, add the potatoes and onions. Cook about 3 mins while mixing them around.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients, EXCEPT BEANS & PARSLEY/CILANTRO. Cook for about 25 mins until carrots and potatoes are tender, then add beans and salt & pepper to taste.
5. Let the beans cook in the soup for about 5 mins.  Turn off heat and add the parsley or cilantro and blend some of the soup if you wish.
NOTE:  
Here is a version where IF you blend part of the soup it can be a bit thicker but the taste is pretty much the same. I use my immersion blender and place it in about three spots and blend for a few seconds just to give the soup a thicker body. When adding your water or broth use your own judgement to get the consistency you like.



Here is about how big I chop my veggies.
 You can really use almost any veggie you like.  Sometimes I use broccoli instead of zucchini, you can add mushrooms too. One thing I don't use is celery. It just gives a flavor I prefer in other soups, like chicken noodle.

After cooking the soup for about 25-30 mins I add the beans and let them get heated, about 5 mins and it's ready to enjoy.