Soup! - Shared from /lets_grab_coffee

Soup! - Shared from /lets_grab_coffee

I love soup! I'm sitting here having a bowl of white bean noodle soup for lunch. Almost every kind, and it's my favourite dish to make. Some of my favourites are chili (do you consider chili a soup?),...

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It was suggested I share my soup recipes here. I have no amounts for the ingredients since it tends to change cased on who I'm making for and the servings needed. I hope that's okay.

Chili

Okay, so my chilis tend to be kind of freeform based on who I'm making them for, what I have on hand, and whether it's a quick chili or a slow cooked version. Also which size of a chili I'm making. I have done everything from vegan chilis to moose chilis following this basic recipe

1-2lbs of red meat
Chili powder to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
Garlic or garlic powder to taste
Red onions or onion powder to taste
Fresh ground black pepper
Variety of canned beans, drained
(my preferred selection: red kidney beans, white navy beans, beans in tomato sauce, mixed beans)
Can Tomato paste
Can diced tomatoes

Vegetarian option:
Check all your beans are veggie/vegan friendly
Use portabella mushrooms instead of red meat

I like to pop my spices into a skillet and heat them up to get their maximum flavour profile out.

Then I'll add my red meat to get a sear on it and lock in the juices, maximize the flavours. Maybe add a bit of olive oil if it's a lean cut.

Toss into bottom of crock pot

I drain all the beans add them into the crock pot. Stir them with the meat and spices already added. Add more chili powder to taste.

Stir in tomato paste and diced tomatoes (juice included) stir in.

Add chosen vegetables. I love peppers and fresh mushrooms. Usually diced, but I'll just add a whole pepper uncut for taste if I'm making it for people who don’t like the taste of sweet peppers.

Stir in so there's a good mix of everything. Add a couple of dried red chilis.

OPTIONAL SECRET INGREDIENT.
To temper the spice, add a quarter can of coca-cola. It adds a little bit of sweetening and the caramel in it adds an unexpected dimension to your chili. Also works with diet coke if you can't have sugar

Cream of Mushroom

Chicken broth
Half & Half Cream
Dehydrated Mushrooms

Bring the chicken broth and mushrooms
To a boil. Turn down. Add the half and half. Simmer until the mushrooms are soft.

Chicken Noodle

Skin on chicken.
Chicken stock
Fresh or frozen hard veggie. (carrots, celery etc)
Pasta

I tend to use chicken thighs because they're the most affordable cut. Brown the chicken skin in a skillet. Place into soup pot. Add some water to the skillet to get any juices, add to soup pot. Add water and some chicken stock for richer flavour. Bring to boil and let simmer. Add in your choice of fresh or frozen veggies. I like carrots for sweetness. Cook until the chicken is cooked and the carrots are just about at desired crisp or softness. Add pasta, bring back to a boil until pasta is al dente

Cream of Potato

Chicken stock
Potatoes
Half & half cream
Carrots
Celery
Peamale bacon (aka cornmeal bacon, Canadian bacon) Ham or sliced bacon are acceptable subsitutes

Brown the peamale bacon in a skillet
Cut it into bite size pieces
Add peamale and grease into soup pot.
Add chicken stock, bring to boil.
While chicken stock is coming to boil, prepare potatoes, add to chicken stock. Add carrots and celery
Simmer until almost cooked. Remove 1 cup of stock and 1/4 potatoes. Toss in food processor or blender.
Add half and half cream (or soy milk)
Readd removed stock and potatoes that have been blended together.
Simmer until combined and ready to serve.