Quick soup is perfect when you get home later than anticipated or even if you just don’t feel like cooking. While you can always toss a can of soup into a pot and heat it, there’s nothing like homemade to warm the stomach and the soul. You’ll enjoy sipping broth with your family a lot more if you made the whole thing and fortunately, it doesn’t have to take long.
First of all, you’ll need a few basics in your pantry at all times. A form of broth is always good, whether canned, frozen or powdered form. Make sure you have plenty of your favorite type (chicken, beefo or veggie) on hand at all times and you’ll be ready to whip up a quick soup in no time.
Other items that are handy to have include dried oregano, garlic powder, condensed milk and pasta. With these simple ingredients, along with what you have in the fridge you can turn out a delicious soup in no time flat! Frozen or canned veggies are another way to go and can ensure your soup has a great base.
The Process of Quick Soup
To start off with, you want the best flavor possible. Onions, leeks and garlic are all excellent ways to infuse flavor into your soup, so start with one of these, chopped or sliced and fried in a little oil and butter in your soup pot. Once they have turned translucent, add chopped celery if you have it. Allow to sauté for a minute and then add meat if you are going this route. If the meat is raw, it should be chopped up and then sautéed just enough to brown it, whether chicken, beef or hamburger meat. Previously cooked meat can just be tossed in with the rest of the veggies.
Once you have the base for your soup, you’ll need some broth. Add 1 cup per person you plan to feed, a little more if you are going to add pasta or rice to the soup. Dump in all the veggies you plan to use, including corn, carrots, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes, etc. Rice or pasta can also be added at this point. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the vegetables are tender.
About 10 min. before you remove from the heat, add in chopped fresh or dried herbs to increase flavor. You can also add a shot of hot sauce for a little zing. Don’t add milk or cream until you have taken the soup off the stove.
For a creamy quick soup, puree in the blender with some condensed milk. Reheat a little, but don’t allow to boil. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped green onion, herbs or even a few kernels of corn.
Quick soup can be a lifesaver and if you have previously cooked food (otherwise known as leftovers) in the fridge, you can easily have a tasty soup in 15 minutes! Hearty and ready to fill your family up.
Genesis Davies
