I've really been into making soups a lot lately. I enjoy making them and I like how they're a great light meal. I really shouldn't call them light because they always fill me up. The one tool I will say everyone needs in their kitchen is an immersion blender.
I've had mine for years and it comes in great use from making soups to mashing mashed potatoes. Anytime a recipe says pour the contents into a blender and blend, you can just use your immersion blender. Saves so much time and clean up. Since it's been so cold out all I want to eat is something warm and soup is perfect for that. Here are some of my favorites:
I've had mine for years and it comes in great use from making soups to mashing mashed potatoes. Anytime a recipe says pour the contents into a blender and blend, you can just use your immersion blender. Saves so much time and clean up. Since it's been so cold out all I want to eat is something warm and soup is perfect for that. Here are some of my favorites:
I didn't expect this soup to have so much flavor but it really did. This soup is straight up vegetables and spices so it's very healthy. Anything with kale and beans in it is a winner to me.
This soup came together because I had a bag of dried lentils in my pantry that I didn't know what to do with. I love bean and lentil soups so this was perfect for me. Theo actually really liked it too. It has a potato in it as well to make it creamier. Another soup recipe my immersion blender came into good use.
Beer- Infused Chicken Chili with White Beans
This recipe comes from The Pollan Family Table Cookbook. I was excited to find this cookbook at Costco because I'm a huge admirer of Michael Pollan. He was the author of In Defense of Food and a real food activist. He's also in the movie Food, Inc. This cookbook was written by his 3 sisters and mom and it's all their family recipes. The book has some beautiful pictures and delicious looking recipes. The first one I tried was this soup recipe and it was great. Theo really had his heart set on a "real chili" that night but I had other plans and he was pleased with this soup. I'm sure the added bottle of beer helped. ;) The recipe called for 4 chicken breasts cooked but I've got no time for that so I picked up a rotisserie chicken and shredded it.
Ingredients
1 whole rotisserie chicken, chopped and shredded into pieces
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
two 15 oz cans organic white beans (navy or cannellini)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 large white onion, chopped
2 cups seeded and diced poblano peppers, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 jalapeno chili, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 bottle of beer
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Recipe
Rinse and drain the beans in a colander. Put half the beans in a mixing bowl and smash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Add the remaining whole beans and set aside.
In a small mixing bowl, mix the cumin, coriander, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Place a large saucepan over medium high heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the onions, poblano, jalapeno, and garlic. Saute until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the spice mixture, cook for 1 minutes and remove from the heat.
Transfer one cup of the vegetable from the saucepan to separate bowl and add 1 cup of of the chicken broth. Blend with immersion blender until pureed. Add the puree to the rest of the vegetables in the saucepan. Turn the heat to medium and stir. Add the beer and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the remaining 3 cups of chicken broth, the lime juice, cilantro, all the beans, the shredded chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat to high, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for a minimum 25 minutes and up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
I picked up Ina's new book and really want to try her Butternut Squash Soup recipe.
Any soup recipes you recommend?
Oh your soups are making me so hungry especially the creamy cauliflower soup with a side of grilled cheese! YUM!
ReplyDeleteAll of those look soooo good! Perfect for this weather. My sister made a beer cheese soup the other day that I'm dying to try!
ReplyDeletemmm i love soup lately (i think its the cold weather!) we're having tomato and roasted red pepper soup tonight (thank you trader joes!) xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteI love soup this time of year!! We have tomato basil tortellini soup last night and it was amazing! I use my immersion blender all the time for soup and LOVE it! I think my next one soon might be a batch of butternut squash soup.
ReplyDeleteHow have I never heard of an immersion blender before? Just added to my Christmas list - I need to try that cauliflower soup!
ReplyDeleteI love my immersion blender too. I use it a lot! When I would make small batches of SS' baby food I used it a lot too!
ReplyDeleteYessss! Soup season is my favorite!!! xx
ReplyDeleteI love love love soup season! And these look delish! We have an immersion blender and I never use it. This is just the little inspiration I need! Yum!
ReplyDeleteSoup is one of My favorite things to eat! Going to have to try these. The kale one sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love soups so I love when it finally gets cold enough down her to justify making them every weekend! Going to have to try these out!!
ReplyDelete<3, Pamela
sequinsandseabreezes.blogspot.com
Our stupid immersion blender broke and I can't bring myself to buy a new one. Apparently you can always use a blender for soup, too, at least. I want to try the cauliflower soup recipe for sure!
ReplyDeleteI love lentils so the idea of making a creamy version of the soup sounds amazing! Your panini looks so good in that first picture too!
ReplyDeleteI adore soup too! Can't wait to try some of these!
ReplyDeleteI've been all about the soup lately too! Sadly Steve doesn't eat it though, so more for me I guess. I think I need to try that cauliflower soup, that looks so good with that sandwich you made!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my immersion blender. Love all your soups. Will definitely need to test these out! xo
ReplyDeleteSo many yummy soups I need to try! Everyone I know that has an immersion blender raves about it!
ReplyDeletemmm yum!! I have never heard of one of those but for this time of year it seems like a no-brainer purchase!!
ReplyDeleteHey lady, will you post that jalapeno cheddar beer soup recipe?
ReplyDelete