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Fresh & Creamy Pea Soup

In Soups and Stews On January 9, 2017 0 Comments

I hope you weren’t thinking of using canned or frozen peas to make a great-tasting pea soup.
image-peasnobrand

With fresh peas and a few more ingredients, you’ll enjoy a great meal in no time. Complement this gourmet soup with rustic French or Italian bread and your favorite wine. Bon appetit!

Prep time:10 minutes
Cook time:15 to 20 minutes
Serves: 2 to 4

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup finely chopped white or brown onion
2 to 3 cups cold water
3 cups fresh, shelled green peas
salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Dash grated nutmeg
1 cube vegetable or chicken bouillon
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream (optional)
1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
2 to 4 fresh mint leaf sprigs

Prepare the Soup:
1. In a 4-quart sauce pot, heat the oil (it should not smoke).

2. When oil is hot, add the chopped onion; stir-fry onion with wooden spoon until it is translucent – about 2 minutes.

3. When onion is translucent, pour in 2 cups of the water and stir in the peas.

4. Bring the soup to a boil.

5. When the soup comes to a boil, add salt, black pepper and nutmeg.

6. Cook the soup on medium-high, making sure it boils, for about 5 minutes.

7. After 5 minutes, add 1 cube vegetable or chicken bouillon; set heat on medium to medium-low and simmer the soup for about 10 minutes or until peas are tender.

8. When peas are tender, taste the soup. If another bouillon cube is needed, you may add it at this point.

9. Set the sauce pot with soup aside on a cold burner.

Puree/Blend the Soup:
1. When soup is lukewarm, transfer one-third of it to a blender.

2. Add cream to soup in blender; blend soup until smooth or slightly lumpy-smooth, per taste.

3. Transfer this first batch of soup to a large glass or porcelain bowl; repeat blending the remaining soup in two more batches.

4. Transfer the last two batches to bowl.

5. Return the blended soup to the sauce pot; bring to a boil.

6. When soup boils, stir in the sliced carrots and cook for 2 minutes.

7. Serve soup immediately; garnish with fresh mint leaf sprig.
Text & Photograph ©2017 Nancy DeLucia Real

Onion Soup Gratinée (Soupe à l’Oignon)

In Soups and Stews On February 23, 2013 0 Comments

I sure miss the onion soup from Au Petit Poucet Restaurant in Quebec (see January 14, 2013 post on this blog). The restaurant’s soup ingredients include Brandy and red wine. Inspired by this fact, I just had to make it that way, too. And I’m so glad I did – Bon Appetit!

Active Prep time: 20 to 25 minutes
Inactive Prep time (cooking): 50 to 60 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
8 large yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced
3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
8 cups beef stock
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup Brandy liqueur
1/4 cup dry red wine
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 sprig fresh thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 to 6 thick slices French baguette (slices should be 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick)
1-1/2 cups (5 to 6 ounces) grated Gruyère cheese
6 to 8 sprigs fresh, Italian flat-leaf parsley

1. Place a large (8-quart) saucepot on stove burner which is set on medium heat.

2. In the saucepot, melt the butter or heat the oil.

3. Stir in the onion slices and sauté the mixture for about 15 minutes or until onions are translucent and wilted. (Note: do not let onions turn brown. If this happens at the start, reduce heat.)

4. Add the sugar and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized.

5. Stir in the stock, garlic, Brandy, red wine and Worcestershire sauce.

6. Bind the bay and thyme leaves with twine. Add the bundled herbs to the stock mixture in sauce pot. Simmer the soup for about 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the salt and pepper, to taste.

7. Preheat oven broiler (top grill element).

8. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and place about 6 inches away from oven broiler. Broil the bread slices 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown (stand by and watch this process carefully to avoid charring the bread).

9. Place 4 to 6 ovenproof bowls or crocks on a baking sheet. Discard the herb bundle from the soup. Ladle the soup and fill the bowls to 2/3 full.

10. Place a slice of toasted bread on top of each bowl. Sprinkle the soups evenly with the grated Gruyere.

11. Carefully set the baking sheet with the soup bowls 6 inches away from oven broiler element. Broil about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and is golden brown.

12. Garnish each soup with a fresh parsley sprig and serve immediately.

Wine pairing suggestion: Bordeaux or Meursault (both reds).
Text and Photograph ©2013 Nancy DeLucia Real