Soup is a great way to make the most of seasonal produce. Vary your choices throughout the year and stock up on what’s in season. Not only will it taste delicious, it will work
out a lot cheaper than buying vegetables that are being grown out of season. Making a big batch of soup, even if you’re only cooking for yourself, is a great dish to keep on hand.
You can keep a batch in the refrigerator for light suppers, lunch or freeze portions  for the future.

It’s that time of the year again: the season when rich, hearty soups add some much needed warmth and comfort to the long winter months.

Sweet Potato and Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cartons (32 oz.) low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 lb. (3 – 4 medium) sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cans (15.5 oz.) cannellini (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15.5 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup fresh basil or parsley, coarsely chopped

Directions

In a large pot over high heat, pour in broth and add the sweet potatoes, onion, celery, tomato paste, paprika and oregano and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20-25 minutes.

Stir in beans and chickpeas. Cover and simmer until beans are heated through, about 3-4 minutes.

Gently stir soup until well mixed and ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve.

For creamy soup, purée a portion of the soup in the processor or with a hand immersion blender and stir well before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Hearty Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 head of celery, diced
• 1 pound bag of carrots, peeled and chopped
• 6 red potatoes, cubed
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 head of kale, chopped
• 32 ounces chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper

Directions

In a large Dutch oven over medium heat add broth, onion, celery, carrots and potatoes.

Add garlic powder, fresh cracked pepper, a generous amount of sea salt and enough water to cover the vegetables.

Cook for about 30 minutes and then stir in the tomatoes and kale. Add sea salt and pepper, as needed.

Cook another 10 minutes and remove from the heat.

Winter Soup with Sausage, Leeks, White Beans and Rapini

Ingredients

• 2  leeks
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced yellow onion
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1  dried bay leaf
• Sea salt
• 1 pound pork or turkey sweet Italian sausage with fennel
• 7 cups chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cups stewed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2  large bunches rapini (broccoli rabe) woody stem ends removed, and chopped (6-8 cups kale, collards or any hearty leafy greens would also work here)
• 1 – 15-ounce can cannellini beans, or 2 cups beans made from scratch
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and red pepper flakes to taste

Directions

Wash and trim the leeks. Slice the tender white ends into thin rounds to make 1 cup.

Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery, onion, carrots, bay leaf and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover the pot and cook the vegetables over medium-low heat until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

In the meantime, in a large skillet, brown all sides of the sausage. Remove the sausages from the heat and slice into ½-inch-thick rounds.

Once the vegetables are tender, add the chicken broth and tomatoes to the pot. Bring to a simmer and add the rapini and sausage rounds. Cook until both vegetables and sausage are cooked through, about 8 more minutes of simmering.

Add the beans to the pot. Turn off the heat and let all the ingredients rest. Taste for seasoning and add salt and black pepper to your liking.. Fish out and discard the bay leaf.

Scoop the stew into large shallow bowls and scatter chopped parsley over the top. Pass around bowls of grated Parmigiano and red pepper flakes.

Tuscan Herb White Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 container (32 oz.) vegetable broth
• 2 cans (15 oz. each) white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 pkg. (4.5 oz.) Baby Kale or any greens to your liking
• Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Directions
Heat oil in large sauce pot.  Add garlic, onion, carrots and herbs.  Cook over medium-high heat until onion and carrots are just tender, about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add vegetable broth and beans; bring to boil.  Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes.  Add baby greens and cook until just wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Chicken Risotto Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 ounces trinity mix (fresh diced onions, bell peppers, celery)
• 8 ounces sliced baby portabella mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 5 fresh garlic cloves
• 3 ounces fresh spinach leaves (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/3 cup Arborio (risotto) rice
• 1 (32-ounce) box chicken broth
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 10 ounces cooked chicken (or turkey)
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Preheat olive oil in a large saucepan; swirl to coat. Add trinity mix, mushrooms and black pepper. Crush garlic into the pan using a garlic press. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until vegetables begin to brown.

Meanwhile, chop spinach coarsely. Stir in rice and spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring often, until spinach wilts.

Stir in broth, half-and-half and wine (in that order); bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium and cook 15-17 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender. Meanwhile, cut chicken into bite-size pieces; set aside.

Combine water and cornstarch in small bowl until well blended. Stir chicken into soup. Slowly add cornstarch mixture, stirring continuously, until blended and soup begins to thicken. Cook 2-3 more minutes, stirring occasionally, to heat chicken and blend flavors.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in Beans, broccoli rabe, carrots, celery, Chicken, greens, Herbs, kale, leeks, onion, potatoes, Rice, Sausage, Soup, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, vegetable, Vegetarian