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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Finally getting to be soup weather!

I love the cooler weather. And I am looking forward to soup. Lots of soups. Hearty soups. So I went looking through past blog posts to see what's what. These are two I had forgotten about and I'm glad I went back to look. They will be on our table again very soon.




Minestrone with Tomatoes and Rice
Source: original recipe by Luca Marcato of Osteria al Doge, NYC

1/4 cup olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 medium carrot, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 medium Idaho potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
1 small zucchini, cut into 1-inch dice
1 small yellow squash, cut into 1-inch dice
1 Japanese eggplant or 1/2 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup arborio rice
one 28-ounce can Italian peeled tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
salt and fresh ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 small stalk of broccoli — cut into 1-inch florets, stem peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 small head of cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets
1 medium celery rib, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup frozen baby peas
6 cups water, vegetable or chicken broth

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive soup pot. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Add the carrot potato, zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

Add the rice to a skillet on medium heat with a little bit of oil, about a tablespoon. Stir well to coat the grains with the oil and toast for about two minutes. Then add the rice to the soup pot with the vegetables. Add the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, the crushed red pepper and 6 cups of water and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Add the broccoli, cauliflower, celery and peas and cook, stirring, until all the vegetables and the rice are tender, about 35 minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper.

(MAKE AHEAD: The soup can be refrigerated for 1 day. Reheat before serving.) Ladle the soup into bowls and serve, passing the Parmesan cheese at the table.  If it's too thick next day, add some stock or water and season again!
 




Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup
 adapted by There's Always Thyme to Cook
Source: Food Network, recipe by Giada De Laurentiis
Printable Recipe

2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 sage leaf
2 (15-ounce) cans cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, cut in 1/2
1/2 cup cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 slices crusty bread, cut into chunks
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Place a medium, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter, olive oil, and shallot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sage and beans and stir to combine. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the garlic and simmer until the garlic is softened, another 10-15 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup. It will be hot so be careful.

Once all the soup is blended add the cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm, covered, over very low heat.

Arrange the bread on a sheet pan in one layer. Drizzle the slices of bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Broil the bread until warm and golden, keeping an eye so they don't burn. Stir to toast all sides. Serve the soup in bowls with the croutons. 


I'm joining

 



61 comments:

  1. Yum, both look delicious! A large bowl of hearty soup with a slice of bread for dunking is perfect on a chilly evening.
    ~Judy

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  2. I love to cook this time of year - making soups is my favorite! Both of these soups look incredibly delicious.

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  3. Yippee!!!!! Soup!!!!! I'm going to try both. I love Tuscan bean soup.

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  4. Both soups are all very tasty and comforting. Time to eat some soup!

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  5. We love soup, even in the summer! That minestrone is shouting to me...

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  6. Oooh, I'll have a big ole bowl of the white bean soup please! Sounds great:@)

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  7. What great soup recipes. The Tuscan bean looks so delicious and minestrone is a favorite. Soup weather has arrived. It's really chilly here in NE tonight.

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  8. one of the reasons i love fall is coz of all the soup recipes i can try :D
    that tuscan soup is calling to me....

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  9. Hi Carol, both of your soups look yummy. The first one is full of great veggies and I also like the beans and garlic. Thanks for sharing! I wish you and yours a great weekend.

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  10. I am SO excited for soup also! ANd now the real question is...which of these should I make first? Hmm.

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  11. They both look good!
    I made leek and potato this week. Going to be 70 by Sunday, I am still using the outdoor shower, holding on to summer as long as I can!

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  12. Both of these soups look delicious. I am so excited that soup season is here! I will be pinning these!

    Thank you for linking up to Foodie Friends Friday! Hope you will bring another recipe next week!

    By the way, I am now following your blog and twitter!

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  13. Carol, thanks for linking this in. Cheers

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  14. We love soup! Well we do now, hubby grew up not enjoying his mother's soups and refused for me to even make homemade soup until about 10 years ago. Now he loves homemade soup! And I know he would love the ministrone soup! Thanks for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday! Please come back on Sunday to VOTE

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  15. Both of these sound fantastic! I just made soup for dinner today. There's something about this time of year that just makes me want soup everyday!

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  16. As I said elsewhere on Weekend Cooking, I love soup. I could eat it every single day! I made split pea soup last night and I'm already dreaming about eating the leftovers for lunch (and it's only 9am!). Your two soups look so good. I can't wait to get a chance to try them.

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  17. I'm a huge fan of soups, too. I have chicken tortellini in the refrigerator now (must have soup on hand for a fall weekend!) and am always on the lookout for new recipes. Both of these look delicious - I LOVE white beans.

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  18. Your post really hits the spot -- two yummy-sounding recipes. Mmmmmmm!

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  19. I'm on a soup kick now and both of these look tasty. Once again, I'm pinning your post. You are a treasure trove of great recipes.

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  20. Both soups look fabulous, Carol! I'd love having a bowl of each on this chilly Saturday.

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  21. Those look wonderful and perfect for the weather we're having. The minestrone looks hearty enough for a one-pot meal. My favorite kind!

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  22. I love soup weather! And I love soup. Both of your recipes look delicious, but I'd probably go for the white bean soup first, as I adore other white bean recipes I've tried. YUM. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. I am in a soup mood and guess what, it is only going to be 80 here today! That is practically soup weather in AZ :) These look great.

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  24. Hi Carol,
    It is sure getting to be Soup Weather here and your soup will just be perfect for a cold and rainy day, it looks delicious! Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  25. Hmmm...I can just smell that soup. wish I had a bowl right now....

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  26. I LOVE sou and soup weather. This looks wonderful!

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  27. I love soup weather, although it could stay away for a few more weeks. Your soup looks delicious!!!

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  28. Both soups are very hearty, indeed so appropriate nutrition for fall weather..YUM!

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  29. They look so yummy. Will definitely give the garlic soup a try.

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  30. We are just coming to the end of soup weather. I must remember these two recipes, especially the tuscan bean one!

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  31. This reminds me I need to be making more soup! I like the use of rice in the minestrone...good way to mix it up!

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  32. These recipes remind me that I'm out of garlic and need to go get some today. It's definitely soup weather again!

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  33. These look sooooo good. It started raining here this weekend - soup weather!

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  34. They look great! We totally live on soup at our house this time of year.

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  35. I do love soup, and both of yours looks delicious!

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  36. it's always soup season at my house. ;-) Both soups look like something wonderful to curl up and enjoy a bowl of. Thanks for sharing them with Souper Sundays this week.

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  37. Both soups look comforting, rich and perfect for this weather! I am a huge soup fan,Carol!

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  38. Minestrone with eggplant and cauliflower is a new one on me, but it looks so hearty and good.

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  39. Two tasty, elegant soups! Both are my absolute favorites. Thank you for sharing!

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  40. Hi Carol! Both these soups look great. Can't wait to try the bean and garlic one. We had some bacon and lentil soup for dinner tonight!

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  41. Spring is taking its time so I would love to make this :D
    Yum!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  42. I agree they both look delicious! This time of year always makes me think of soups, stews and chili!

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  43. The addition of rice would make this soup very hearty and filling.. yum.

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  44. yep!! the weather for soups has come..and this is a delightful soup to make... looks warm and inviting!!


    http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.in/

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  45. Ben loves minestrone and I love the rice instead of pasta.

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  46. Both soups look delicious Carol...and perfect for the cold weather.
    Hope you are having a fantastic week :)

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  47. Those soups look quite tasty. It's not cold here yet (in fact, it's about the warmest it's been this year in SF), but soon it will be soup weather here, too.

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  48. It's quite warm here but I wouldn't say no to a bowl of such beautiful soups Carol. Both of them look absolutely delicious and hearty!

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  49. Yum, I love soup! It's not really cool enough yet here but I finally couldn't help myself last week and cooked up a big vat of cauliflower soup. A bit too heavy for the weather but oh so good...

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  50. Both recipes sound absolutely delicious (easy to make vegetarian is always a plus:) I love that the first has so many different kinds of vegetables, sounds like something I'd make. I'd also like to try the white bean soup with a veggie broth for my family to give them a new approach to beans this winter.

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  51. I love a hearty soup when it's cold too! Both recipes sound wonderful and I'm glad you found them to share :)

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  52. I love a hearty soup when it's cold too! Both recipes sound wonderful and I'm glad you found them to share :)

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  53. Not sure why that last comment came in as being Unknown. I think I'm known :)

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  54. Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing with Simple Meals Friday. I hope to see you agian this week!

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  55. Hi there, lovely soups! I've never tried minestrone with rice, sound stemptong! And I'm loving your tuscan bean soup too, we have homegrown borlotti beans in the freezer and out they come for soups like these, lovely flavours in your recipe

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  56. You can bring either one next fall when you stop by for your warm plum dumpling... I will provide the ice cream. I recently made butternut squash soup for the first time. Bring on the soups!

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    1. Butternut squash soup is so good. I need to make that, too!

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  57. Thanks for all the nice comments! It's getting cooler. Definitely more soups on the horizon.

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