Thursday, October 21, 2010

How leftovers became a delicious soup...


Ever since I got that food mill, I have yet to toss a leftover soft tomato that no one will bother to use. Now I just roast them, freeze them and put them to good use as a soup or a sauce. Had some orange and yellow bell peppers that were starting to wrinkle, because they were hidden by other stuff in the frig. So I threw them in the roasting pan as well. Dug deep in the freezer and found a poblano pepper that I had sliced in strips and froze to use at a later time. They freeze fine, it came in handy, I threw them in the roasting pan, too, along with some sliced shallots and fresh garlic! As each kid got home from school, they said "smells good!"  So did the Griller, said same thing when he walked in the door, but I think he was secretly happy that I roasted and he didn't have to grill, it's getting cold out there!

After about an hour roasting, I turned off the heat and let it sit for another 45 minutes in the warm oven. I took it out, dumped it all in the food mill and it spun around and around, the seeds and skins separating from the juicy pulp! Threw in a chipotle in adobo sauce, just one for good measure! And then on the stove to simmer for a while. Added some corn, a can of black beans and some shredded leftover chicken. Topped with a little cilantro and some sour cream. Leftovers never tasted so good!

Roast vegetable goodness with chicken, corn and black beans! Somewhat plain for some, just topped with a little sour cream and a sad little piece of cilantro!



and the works! Tortilla chips, avocado, and  sour cream!



Roasted Tomato and Pepper Soup with Chicken, Corn and Black Beans

4 tomatoes, cut in half, not huge, any kind you like
8 Campari tomatoes, small plum or large cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 orange or yellow bell peppers, seeded and cut in quarters
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut in quarters
1 poblano pepper
5 cloves of garlic
2 shallots, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil to drizzle

1 cup leftover roast chicken, shredded, small pieces
1 cup corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
juice of 1 small lime

Sour cream
Tortilla chips
Avocado, sliced

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Place the peppers, tomatoes, shallots and garlic on a large half-sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for an hour. Turn the oven off and let the pan sit in the heat for another 45 minutes or so.

Run everything through a food mill to remove the skins and seeds. Or in the food processor and then strain the seeds and skins. Pour the puree into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium-low and add the chicken, beans and corn. If the soup is too thick for your taste, add some chicken stock to thin it out. Simmer for about 20 minutes and serve with sour cream, chopped cilantro, tortilla chips, avocado, a squeeze of lime, whatever you like! Anything goes!



Joining Suzy at Kitchen Bouquet for another Flashback Friday
My original post on the Food Mill and Roasted Tomato Sauce can be found here. and my post about a really delicious Roasted Tomato Soup can be found here!

24 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! The picture with the sour cream and avocado got me! Yummy! Now I am hungry for soup! Hope you are having a great week!...hugs...Debbie

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  2. What you did with the two pages of the recipe book is very original. Thanks for satisfying my curiosity. This soup looks so colorful and delicious.

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  3. I think the pictures got to us all! Delicious! ♥

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  4. Sounds absolutely perfect to me! I really have to start roasting more veggies, it really adds flavor:@)

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  5. Very creative! I don't like to waste food either! leftovers turning into a soup is something very clever. Thanks for sharing this.

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  6. I absolutely adore my food mill! This soup looks great. I've got to try the roasted peppers in the food mill...never have and it must be good!

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  7. I think roasting makes everything taste better! This soup sounds so good...I'd like it with the "the works" please!

    PS: I also love my food mill :)

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  8. Oh, this looks soooooooo good! I'm going to print this out and make this real soon. Thanks!!

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  9. Looks delicious, and so good not to waste food!

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  10. I'm duly impressed how you are using all the leftovers! Amazing what you can freeze and use at a later date..mine would be overflowing! Good Job Focus!! :)

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  11. I am doing this for next friday!!!

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  12. I love my food mill. Great flavors in this soup!!!

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  13. Often times we eat avocado as a fruit. I learned to eat the avocado as a vegetable, when my friend introduced me using it on top of soup!

    We also "recycle" left overs. Thanks for all the tips!

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  14. Great flavors in this soup, and roasting veggies certainly adds more flavor!

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  15. I would love a bowl of that soup! No leftovers so I might have to go buy the ingredients and make it - the roasting of the veggies first must really give it great flavor.

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  16. I do need to get that food strainer attachment! These both sound delicious! Soup is the perfect food group right now. We had our first light frost last night :(

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  17. Very inventive! I usually use those frozen leftover veggies for making broth...next time I will try roasting them and making soup!

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  18. What a great meal!!! It looks so good and must have tasted wonderful. Yum! It's always an added bonus to me when I use leftovers and make a whole new entree. :)

    You are kind to your griller. Mine will be grillin' the Swordfish tonight!

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  19. I am loving this! I really enjoy roasting vegetables (root vegetables, tomatoes, peppers, onions, etc.). This soup that you put together is awesome. Damn healthy too.

    btw, I did not know that poblanos freeze well. Good to know.

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  20. This looks awesome. I love soups. I had some roast chicken to use up tonight and this would have been a great way. Chicken pot pie was not too shabby though :-) Thanks for joining me in the flashback this week.

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  21. That's a very flavourful and fresh soup!

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  22. That soup looks wonderful, and with the avocado and chips! Yum. I think soups and stir frys are leftovers best friends.

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  23. I roast vegetables as a way to save less than desirable looking produce. It's awesome, isn't!?

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