Ingredients
. Aromatics (butter, leeks or onions & garlic)
. Chicken Stock
. Canned Whole Peeled Tomatoes
. Carrots
. Fresh Ginger
. Herbed Croutons (garnish)
. Watercress (garnish)
Special Equipment
. Immersion Blender
Notes from the Kitchen
. Having a quart of homemade stock in the fridge makes a big difference. (And is a cost-effective way to get a good chicken breast dinner, plus lots of stock, out of a single chicken.)
. Leeks used for carrot soup and onion for tomato, worked well for each.
. Canned tomatoes work so well in the recipe that there seems little need to go fresh.
. The scent of the fresh ginger while cooking the aromatics is invigorating.
. A relatively quick and easy set of soups to make.
. Garnishes are entirely optional, adding visual appeal rather than imparting any notable texture or flavor.
Eating the Results
Laura says: The tomato soup had such incredible creaminess that it was hard to believe it came from the aromatics alone. It should replace that Campbell's soup can for late-fall and winter lunches of tomato soup with grilled cheese. The carrot ginger soup benefited from the extra sweetness of the leeks, with the refreshing zing of fresh ginger, while providing a heartier meal in a bowl than its vegetable base might imply.
Claudine says: The tomato soup really stood out among all the soups we've made. It was creamy but light at the same time. I am surprised that, though both are vegetable-based and contain little protein, they are rich and hearty enough to be a meal, not just an opening course. I look forward to adding both the tomato and the carrot ginger soup to my fall dinner rotation.
Useful Links
Basic Chicken Stock
