Second Time Around Vegetable Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, serrano chiles, oregano, cumin, and 2/3 teaspoon salt in blender or food processor and puree.
• In large stock pot, combine chicken stock, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, onion, bok choy, celery, green beans, okra, pureed tomato mixture, salt and pepper. Bring soup to a simmer and cook 20 to 30 minutes, adding additional stock if needed. At end of cooking time, add lime juice (or balsamic vinegar).
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Steps:

• In a large saucepan heat the olive oil. When hot, add the onions, leeks, carrots and celery. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until tender; if at any time the vegetables begin to stick to the bottom of the pan before they become tender, add some water.
• Add the tomatoes, saffron and water; bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the soup base into 2 containers and freeze until you are ready to use
• Bring soup base to a simmer (if there does not appear to be enough liquid in which to simmer all of the additional vegetables, then add some water). Add potaotes or white beans, zucchini and pasta, cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or unilt all the ingredients are tender. Serve as is or with pistou or rouille (see below).
• Yield: 4 servings

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and bacon and cook until bacon bits are almost crisp. Add onions, celery and carrots and saute for about 10 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic, zucchini, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach and cook for about 10 minutes longer or until wilted. (If vegetables begin to stick, add some water.) Add the bean puree and whole beans, basil, broth, water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring liquid to a boil, and simmer, over low heat, stirring on occasion, for 20 minutes. Season well to taste with salt and pepper and ladle into hot deep bowls. Garnish with grated cheese to taste.

Steps:

• Bring leftover soup to a boil. Add diced bread and cook, stirring on occasion, for 10 minutes or until soup is thick and porridgelike. Adjust the seasoning and ladle out. Drizzle with olive oil and dust with more cheese if you like.

Steps:

• Bring mushrooms and broth to a boil. Add pasta and cook 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook just until wilted. Season with salt and crushed red pepper.