Category Archives: Soups

Coconut curried Lentil Soup

8 Replies

A hearty feel-good soup

A comforting and warming soup that is super healthy and very delicious. Packed with iron, vitamins and minerals, low in fat, high in fibre and perfect for during the hectic Holiday season.
The great thing is that Lentils cook relatively quick, all in one pot, so you could have dinner on the table in about half an hour. Finish the soup off with a little drizzle of coconut cream and you have yourself a fantastic budget friendly nutritious dinner that also happens to be suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I can’t think of a better sidekick than my homemade Spelt bread to go with it to dunk into the soup. So good.


Prep time : 10 minutes
Cooking time 40 minutes
Serves : 4

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil or coconut oil
  • 2 onions, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped fine
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 leeks, sliced
  • 2 cups of roughly chopped kale
  • 2 cans of coconut milk, reserve a ¼ cup for serving
  • 2 cans of vegetable stock
  • 4 tbsp. madras curry paste
  • 2 cups / 400 gr. dried brown lentils
  • A good squeeze of lemon juice
  • A handful of coriander, chopped
  • Lemon wedges to serve
  • salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:


Take a large pot and heat on medium high, add the oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Add the celery, carrots and leeks and cook for a few more minutes. Now add the curry paste and cook for a minute to release the flavor. Add the kale and the stock, coconut milk (reserve ¼ cup) and lentils. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until lentils have softened. Taste and correct seasoning with salt and pepper. You can cook the lentils a little longer if you want your soup to thicken or you could blend a bit with an immersion blender.
Add the squeeze of lemon juice and add almost all the coriander, reserving some to decorate when serving.
Serve piping hot, garnished with coriander, coconut cream and lemon wedges and plenty of fresh bread.

Enjoy!

If you make this Lentil soup be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

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Chicken and Corn Soup with crispy Bacon

6 Replies

We are so ready for soup season, this delicious chunky chicken and  corn soup is one of our favourites. It’s hearty, filling, comforting and loaded with veggies and lots of corn. Topped with some crumbled crispy bacon and served with crusty French bread, what’s not to love. It’s the perfect soup for this time of year using summer corn but also comforting enough for Fall.

Prep time : 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves : 6

INGREDIENTS:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped fine
  • 1 red bell pepper, cleaned and cut into dice (reserve some for serving)
  • 1 large carrot, cut into dice
  • 1 celery stick, chopped
  • 1 leek, rinsed clean and sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 2 stock cubes
  • 2  cups cooked and shredded chicken
  • 1 ½  cup corn kernels, drained (reserve some for serving)
  • 1 cup double cream
  • 8 rashers bacon, cooked crisp and drained on kitchen paper
  • Handful of chopped parsley to serve

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add onion, pepper, carrot, celery and leek. Cook on medium heat until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the flour and stir to combine completely before adding the stock a little at a time, stirring to combine as you add. Pour in all the stock.

Add 2 stock cubes, crumbled up and stir until dissolved.

Add the chicken and corn  and continue to cook until veggies are tender, about 15 minutes.  Finally add the cream and leave to simmer until the soup is piping hot.

To serve , ladle soup into pretty bowl and sprinkle with reserved parsley, red bell pepper, and corn. Crumble some bacon over the top and serve with lots of crusty bread.

Enjoy!

Myra

Velvety Broccoli Cheese Soup

4 Replies

A creamy broccoli soup packed with goodness! 

Comforting, creamy soup loaded with broccoli and cheese for a delicious filling meal, serve with crusty bread for dipping.

To keep the sodium in the recipe low, choose low- or reduced-sodium chicken stock. I’ve used a cheddar cheese in this recipe but a semi cured Gouda will work too.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and chopped fine
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1 cellery stick, washed and sliced
• 1 large potato, peeled and cubed small
• 1 tbsp. Flour
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 medium head broccoli, cut into florettes. set aside 1/2 cup florettes,
• 1 1/2 Cup Milk (I use half fat milk)
• 1 Cup Chicken or vegetable stock (low sodium preferably)
• A handful of fresh Basil leafs, some smaller leafs reserved for decorating
• 1 Cup grated cheddar (loosely packed)
• Chopped spring onion and creme fraîche to serve


INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
Add onions and garlic and sautee until translucent.
Add the flour and stir to coat everything.
Add milk and stock slowly stirring continuously so you don’t get lumps.

Bring to a slow simmer and add the potatoes.

Chop most of the Basil, remember to reserve some small whole leafs for decorating. Add the chopped Basil to the soup.
Add the bay leaf and Broccoli florettes and cover with a lid.

Cook for about 20 minutes or until potatoes and broccoli are completely tender when pierced with a fork.
Meanwhile steam the remaining cup of broccoli florettes in the microwave for three minutes on high and reserve to add to the finished soup.
Remove the Bay leaf!
With a hand held blender, puree the soup until creamy and velvety.
Add the broccoli florets and heat thru.
Serve with a dollop of creme fraiche and some chopped chives.
Sprinkle with some Basil leafs and serve piping hot.

Enjoy!

Myra XO

quick cream of tomato soup with basil

Quick Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil

4 Replies
quick cream of tomato soup with basil

What can be more comforting than a bowl of soup? If you need a quick fix, or are in a hurry to get dinner on the table, this one is for you.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 small onion, peeled and chopped fine
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, washed and sliced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cans peeled plum tomatoes
• 2 tubs passata
• 2 stock cubes, beef
• 2 tot 3 whole sprigs of basil with the leafs, left whole
• 1 – 2 tsp. sugar
• 1 Cup evaporated milk
• ¼ Cup Cream Cheese
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A handful of fresh Basil leafs, for serving
• 1 Cup grated cheddar (loosely packed) for serving
• 1 tray ready made small meatballs

quick cream of tomato soup with basil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot.
Add onions, carrots and garlic and sautée until translucent. About 5 minutes on medium low heat.
Add the tomato paste and fry for 30 seconds.
Add the canned tomatoes and passata and the stock cubes (crumbled between your fingers)
Also add one can (from the tomatoes) filled with hot water.
Add the whole sprigs of basil, bring to a slow simmer and leave for 15 – 20 minutes.
Remove the basil sprigs and blend with an immersion blender.
Add the meatballs.
Add milk and cream cheese. Add the sugar one teaspoon at a time and check how you like it, adding the remaining teaspoon if necessary. I like it sweet so I added two, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
At this point check the thickness of the soup, if you want it thinner add some more milk or water and if you do, adjust seasoning again.
Sprinkle with some Basil leafs and serve piping hot and serve with some crunchy baguette.

Enjoy!

Myra XO