Soup

[liketocook]

On the previous board we had a long running soup thread. As it's getting to that time a year thought we could do with a new one!
I'm not making soup today but as I have a surfeit of carrots and celery plan to prep some bags of chopped veg bases for soup in coming weeks and turn some of my frozen bone collection into various stocks.

[oat]

I made soup yesterday, I don't know what it could be called really

It had 2 sweet potatoes, 2 carrots, an onion, smoked bacon, tinned tomatoes, chicken stock, lentils, tomato puree and chilli flakes.

Tasted good at lunch time today, and filling.

[liketocook]

I made soup yesterday, I don't know what it could be called really

It had 2 sweet potatoes, 2 carrots, an onion, smoked bacon, tinned tomatoes, chicken stock, lentils, tomato puree and chilli flakes.

Tasted good at lunch time today, and filling.

Sounds delicious, the bung ins are often the tastiest.

[oat]

I make gallons of scotch broth during winter and freeze it, I also use the same recipe but with turkey instead of lamb. J will happily eat it every lunch time. I usually make 10 pints of each in one session.

Good job I like chopping veg

[northleedsbhoy]

Facebook came up with a two year old post today where I said that it was cold and wet so I’d made a pot of soup. Forecast for next week is rain every day so will definitely be making some.

Still can’t understand why people buy lots of tins of soup, especially now that Heinz is about £1.40 a tin, when veg, water plus anything else available, like pasta or rice and maybe a stock cube or two can make a big pot for a fraction of the price

Cheers
NLB

[northleedsbhoy]

I made soup yesterday, I don't know what it could be called really

It had 2 sweet potatoes, 2 carrots, an onion, smoked bacon, tinned tomatoes, chicken stock, lentils, tomato puree and chilli flakes.

Tasted good at lunch time today, and filling.

Sounds delicious, the bung ins are often the tastiest.

Nothing better than “fridge” soup. My mum and gran used to make soup with anything leftover before they went for the next shop - nothing was wasted then.

I watched Saturday Kitchen this morning and there was a guy on saying that the amount of potatoes wasted each week was horrendous and simply because people didn’t know how to store them properly.

Cheers
NLB

[Sloe-Gin]

There are various veg i detest in soup, but am quite happy to eat when cooked another way: parsnips being a good example. I think it's a texture thing.
Sweet potatoes are vile however they are done!
But thank you for starting this and turning my mind to soups!

[northleedsbhoy]

There are various veg i detest in soup, but am quite happy to eat when cooked another way: parsnips being a good example. I think it's a texture thing.
Sweet potatoes are vile however they are done!
But thank you for starting this and turning my mind to soups!

Soup is personal to taste and what’s good for me is maybe not good for you, I just experimented until I found what was best. I found I liked vegetable soup the best but I like variations on a theme, for example I sometimes bung some cooked chicken in together with some rice or spaghetti.

Cheers
NLB

[Earthmaiden]

This is why I rarely post on soup threads. My soups are invariably 'fridge' soups with all sorts of things thrown in and I couldn't possibly provide recipes!

(they're a good way of disguising veg you don't like much too! I draw the line at a few things but they're not likely to be in my fridge anyway ).

[oat]

Leek and potato is another favourite, I have used spring onions that were past their best and brown onions as a sub for leeks.

[northleedsbhoy]

This is why I rarely post on soup threads. My soups are invariably 'fridge' soups with all sorts of things thrown in and I couldn't possibly provide recipes!

(they're a good way of disguising veg you don't like much too! I draw the line at a few things but they're not likely to be in my fridge anyway ).

But what you put in may provide inspiration to others who have similar stuff in the fridge etc but didn’t think it would work for soup until someone else suggested it. I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe for soup, I just put in what I have and I only really have things I like.

Cheers
NLB

[Earthmaiden]

I just feel a bit embarrassed because most of my everyday cooking's like that but people ask for recipes if you say you had something which tasted nice!

[northleedsbhoy]

I just feel a bit embarrassed because most of my everyday cooking's like that but people ask for recipes if you say you had something which tasted nice!

I honestly couldn’t give anyone a recipe of what I make - it’s made up as I go along. I keep tasting and when it’s to my taste it’s done and it’s very rare that that I could give someone the recipe, well unless I say it’s a bit of this, bit of that and a pinch of something else

Cheers
NLB

[halfateabag]

The only soup 'recipe' I use is for gazpacho. All my other 'soups' are made with homemade stock and whatever is in the fridge and (usually) needs using up. Depending on other meals it could get curried or given an Italian influence etc. One of my fave soups is French onion but mainly for the floating cheese crouton which is totally lush. OH says he is not a soup lover but says my HM ones are tasty. Nothing is better on a cold winters day than a bowl of hot tasty soup - it saves putting the heating on !!

[PatsyMFagan]

Like others, my soups are usually from veg that is left over and looking a bit sad, but I do tend to keep the colours together, so BNS with sweet potato and red onions, or celery with leek and (white) potatoes and white onions.

I have recently made a Nigella recipe that was so delicious that I will make it again, but as a soup... BNS and sweet potato curry. Once cooked, easy to add more stock and blitz.

Also a tomato soup recipe passed to me from my sister - so easy to make and as close to tinned tomato soup as I have ever tasted (tinned tomato soup being a favourite comfort food but less calories)

[Suffs]

The thought of making a pot of soup on the hob, with the worry about utility bills, may be a factor nowadays ... a can of soup heated in the microwave may be less scary .

[Earthmaiden]

Good point, Suffs. Such tinned goods are a godsend to many. On the other hand, the conversation here has veered towards using up leftovers which some might throw away.

Those joining the discussion are mostly people who are fortunate enough to have access to at least one choice from slow cookers, liquidisers, magic sticks or moulis, microwaves and leftover food. Such good fortune enables leftovers to be turned into soup quite cheaply without having to use a stove.

[liketocook]

Yes most of my soups revolve round what is lurking in the fridge so usually not a recipe as such. I have few that have evolved over the years liked the tomato one using baked beans that was loosely based on a Slimming World version and will sometimes try a specific recipe from a book or website.
When my boys were leaving home I put together a notebook for each containing how I made their favourite dishes including many soups. Not recipes as such but more a guide to ratios or the ingredients I'd commonly use. Both were decent cooks and DS1 had worked as a chef bit both were keen to replicate their favourites.
Yes the cost for making a batch will be an issue for some but I still reckon per portion most homemade soups would compare favourably cost-wise with tins and are good way of reducing waste so some money saving there but yes sadly not an option for everyone.
Like the thought of the BNS and sweet potato curry soup.

[KeenCook]

Yes most of my soups revolve round what is lurking in the fridge so usually not a recipe as such. I have few that have evolved over the years liked the tomato one using baked beans that was loosely based on a Slimming World version and will sometimes try a specific recipe from a book or website.

I was just about to mention that one, LTC

[Stokey Sue]

Most of my soups are improvised, usually orange soup (any combination of BNS, sweet potato, carrot, red lentil with alliums and spices) or green soup (mainly green veg, usually including some leeks)

There are some for which I do sort of follow a recipe - Vichyssoise, River Café winter minestrone, mushroom soup

I’m going to try making Scotch Broth with a bit of haggis in it, had some in Glasgow, very nice.

Also going to play with using the Instant Pot more