Vegetable soups.

[NoMercy]

Hi, I'm looking for some recipe suggestions for veggie soups. I would use chicken stock at a push, but don't want to use flour, stock cubes, butter, cream, etc.

I've tried the old mediterranean tomato, pepper and basil varieties, plus the typical onion, carrot, leeks, yada yada recipes. I'm looking for some further inspiration. Much appreciated. x

[boxtops]

Morning Nom - sweet potato with red pepper is nice. My personal fave is carrot and coriander. How's the detox going?

[sandyRoe]

Marigold Swiss vegetable bouillon powder makes a good base for a soup.

[boxtops]

NoM would you do beans? The sort of thick bean starter (can't think of its name) makes a lovely thick soup if you blend it down a bit.

[NoMercy]

It's only a semi detox, Boxy. I'm still having cups of tea and grilled fish, etc. But I find soups - if made quite thick, really filling and I feel healthier too. Sweet potato is a grand idea... I love them.

Sandy... I am really averse to anything artificial. I tend to use bay leaves, peppercorns, rock salt, cumin... whatever the recipe requires, for good old fashioned seasoning.

[coccinelle]

When I make soups I don't use anything artificial neither. I have soup every lunchtime over winter and use all kinds of veg. but by adding celery and parsnip they make them tastier. A bit of curry powder or flaked chilli powder adds heat too

[theonlyone]

Carrot and orange is lovely , also easy and cheap to make ....

[NoMercy]

Coccinelle... I had celery and parsnip in today's soup, with carrots, leeks, onions, garlic, cabbage and asparagus. Not half as bad as it sounds.

[Old_Geezer]

With celery in it, it sounds pretty bad. Not sure I'd want to test that one.

So how do you stop it being a watery concoction then ? Surely you must be adding fattening creams and stuff ?

[snags]

China makes a spicy lentil soup with coconut cream... vegi stock based... I can't get enough of it.

[janbee]

broccolli and mature cheddar

[NoMercy]

I love that one, Janbee, but I am trying to exclude the dairy components for the moment.

Snags... I love sweet potato, lentil and coconut with Thai flavours (kaffir lime leaves and bruised lemon grass)

OG... I make my soups with the minimum liquid possible and then blitz them and push through a sieve. They become quite silky and creamy that way.

[snags]

I'll hunt out the recipe...

[NoMercy]

Aww.. mon ange ! That would be great. x

[snags]

Here you go:

Spiced Lentil Soup

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled and sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and finely grated
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed well
1 tablespoon allspice
1 teaspoon chilli powder
500ml vegetable stock
1 x 400ml can of coconut milk ('full flab', not that reduced fat rubbish)
150g green lentils

Heat oil in large pan.
Stir in onon, sweat for 5 mins (the onion not you lol)
Add garlic and ginger and continue to sweat for 4 mins
Stir in coriander, allspice and chilli powder and cook, stirring continuously for 3 minutes
Add the stock and coconut milk and bring to simmer
Stir in lentils and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes.

[NoMercy]

Cheers, Snags. And thank CD for me. x

[snags]

^ It'll end up quite thick and might not look that appetising but it tastes great. Apparently its one of those 'healthy, detox, improve your circulation' soups...

[NoMercy]

Well it sounds right up my street, snags. I wonder if I could substitute split red lentils if I can't source the green ones?

[NoMercy]

I would prefer a fish stew to a fish soup... but I may consider it, FAM. I was toying with the idea of cooking a zarzuela tomorrow night, so I may have to google for a recipe.

[snags]

Can't see why not. Throw some kidney beans in there too...