Sweet corn soup

Sweetcorn soup is our family favorite  soup. This soup is very easy to prepare by using ready chicken/vegetable stock and cooking with corn kernels, finely chopped vegetables. I like to sometimes use home made vegetable or chicken stock. 

It's good to  also prepare the stock at home and keep it in the freezer for later use.

Ingredients:

500 ml low salt chicken or vegetable stock (also called broth) 

16 oz can cream style corn and 1 cup of frozen or fresh corn kernels

1 tsp unsalted butter or 1 tsp olive oil

Salt to taste

2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp white vinegar

1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

2 to 3 thai green chillies

1/2 cup finely chopped carrots, beans, green peas

2 tsp cornstarch for thickening along with teaspoon of water to form a liquid

2 tsp water

1/4 tsp fresh ginger finely chopped

1/4 tsp fresh garlic finely chopped 

1/2 small onion finely chopped or use 2 to 3 finely chopped green onions. You could save the stems to use as garnish.

Method:

1. First, heat a medium sized pot, add butter / olive oil. These days my favorite is the dutch oven I got as a Christmas gift from my children, so it's very special to me. 

2. Add ginger, garlic, thai chillies, add finely chopped green onion or red onion. Let it simmer  for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring to make sure it does not burn.

3. Add broth of your choice (veg or chicken) add in corn kernels and a can of cream style corn. Add salt, pepper, and continue cooking, stirring on medium heat to allow the corn to cook.

4. In another pan, heat butter/oil add in herbs, and the vegetables, stir for approximately 5 to 6  minutes. Add these vegetables to the boiling soup and allow it to cook further.

5. Continue cooking for another 15 minutes, then lower heat.

6. In a small cup, add cornstarch and water stir to. make a liquid paste. Slowly add this cornstarch mix to the the soup to allow it to boil and get a thicker consistency.

7. Check for seasonings, add in vinegar and soy sauce. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy hot soup.

                                                                     

Soup corn soup with vegetables

 

Low fat and high protein

 Chicken Tortilla Soup a very versatile and wholesome soup. It's great for big gatherings, and very satisfying with chicken and beans, along with bell peppers and cilantro.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast 

1 medium sized onion diced

4 to 5 cloves of garlic peeled

1 inch fresh ginger chopped

2 jalapeño's diced

1 can pinto beans or low fat black beans 

1 can white or yellow corn

1 can Fire roasted tomatoes 

2 chipotle peppers (they come in a can) optional

500 ml chicken broth low sodium

1/4 th cup chopped cilantro

2 to 3 tortilla to prepare tortilla strips

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp oregano 

Salt to taste

1 tsp black pepper 

 

                                                               

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Method:
1. Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a Dutch oven or I like to use the insta pot. If using the insta pot, initially
set it to shimmer mode for 10 minutes. Add 2 tsp olive oil, diced onions, black peppercorns,
fresh ginger, garlic.
2. Once onions are translucent, add in can of fire roasted tomatoes, chipotle
peppers, and oregano.
3. Add in cumin, cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Stir in pinto beans
or black beans. Add white corn from a tin or fresh corn.
4. Add low fat chicken broth and chicken breast and allow to boil.
5. As the chicken cooks, (the test is that when it turns white, it is cooked) take it out and
using a kitchen board ( try using good quality kitchen wooden boards)and fork, shred the chicken and put it back into the
prepared soup, and continue to let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Check for salt and other seasonings as per your taste.
7. To prepare tortilla strips, simply cut them into long strips and spray with
little olive oil spray. sprinkle them with very little salt, for seasoning. Place them onto a baking sheet at 350 Ffor 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove and allow to cool.
8. Serve warm soup with tortilla strips and or rice crackers.

Tomato Basil Creamy Soup

When we think of soups only one thing comes to mind and that is comfort food. Preparing soup, at home helps us control the amount of salt, needed.
Weather here is cloudy and perfect for a warm cup of home made tomato soup, cooked  with basil ,garlic and seasoning.  Basil ,also known as sweet basil, is a common herb that has very aromatic leaves ,belongs to the mint family and is great addition to  Italian Mediterranean dishes. Whenever possible, I prefer cooking with  fresh herbs.
I also like to prepare home made stock, veg/chicken, and store it for later use, in preparing gravies or other soups. 

Ingredients
2 pounds plum tomatoes chopped in cubes
1 small red onion chopped finely
3 to 4 Basil leaves chopped finely
1 tspn freshly minced garlic
salt to taste
2 tspn black pepper
1 tspn sugar 
1 cup or 250 ml chicken or veg stock 
1/2 cup Half n half 
 For croutons, take 3 to 4 slices of bread cut in cubes, lay on baking tray, drizzle with  1 tspn olive oil , salt, black pepper and  bake  for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees , till they turn golden brown croutons. Keep aside.
2 tsp Vegetable Oil/Olive oil

                                                                            

Ripe Tomatoes 

Baked in Oven 

Sauté` onions, garlic

Add in tomatoes and basil leaves 

Tomato Basil Soup

Method:
1. Heat 2 tspn vegetable/olive oil in a medium pot ,add in onions and freshly minced garlic, sauté for 4 to 5 minutes till onions get translucent.
2. Chop tomatoes into cubes, and bake them in oven at 350 degrees, for about 20 minutes and then add to the soup, to get a smoky taste in the soup.
3. Add in basil and baked tomatoes,and the seasoning. Next add in stock and cover to cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.
3.Check for salt, if less add 1/2 tspn more,add in 1 tspn sugar and 1/2 cup cream. Take off the burner and allow mixture to come to room temperature.Using a hand blender mix the soup roughly for 2 to 3 minutes , not making it too smooth.

This tomato soup is served hot and its texture is thick and hearty. Pour hot soup into a soup bowl and garnish with prepared croutons.

Vegetable Soup stock
To prepare Vegetarian soup stock ( Stores well in freezer for later use) Vegetable soup stock Recipe
Ingredients
2 medium carrot,potato, chopped into 1 inch cubes
1 red onion cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tomatoes cubed 1 inch
2 tspn salt
1/4  tspn black peppercorns
1 stalk celery chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic minced
1 inch fresh ginger chopped


Method:
1.In a medium sized heavy bottomed pan, heat 2 tspn oil,add in peppercorns, sauté` onions, garlic, ginger for about 2 to 3 minutes,add in carrots,potato, celery, allow to cook for another few  minutes. 
2. Add  6 glasses of water ,bring to a boil, allow to continue to cook for another 30 to 40 minutes and as it cools ,  Blend the mixture in a blender and sieve through a strainer, the soup stock is now ready . A perfect base for using to make soup or gravies, also stock made at home is better in taste and lower in sodium content.

Ready stock can be stored in plastic container for more than a month in the freezer of the refrigerator. Remember to defrost the stock  before using for soups or gravies.