 It’s cold outside and your body needs something to warm it up. Soup not only warms you up but fills you up. Begin your meal with a big bowl of soup and you'll start feeling full before the main course is served. Soup can be any course from appetizer to main course to dessert. When thinking starter, think clear broths. Broth Recipes such as miso or consommé; for breakfast try congee; for meals try heartier soups ; for dessert try oriental sweet beans soups or wonderful fruit soups. Don’t forget our Immuno-Soup to prevent needing chicken soup!
Soups can be hearty without being fattening, just pick your ingredients& cooking methods carefully. Add flavour without adding fat or calories with herbs it up & spices; experiment and don’t forget garlic & ginger, they not only add great flavour, they are great for helping keep germs in check. To reduce the fat content on meat based soups, allow cooling and skimming the fat from the top; if refrigerated-the fat can be lifted off in hard sections.
French cooks always have a stock pot going-everything goes in, including trimmings such as peelings; the skins and cores hold many nutrients that are otherwise lost to the compost heap. Just bring to a rolling boil at least once a day and whenever items are added. If the soup stock gets muddy-a few eggshells will clarify it. This way, your family has some fresh stock on hand for soups, sauces or whenever you want something more flavourful than water. Try sauté your vegetables in a little chicken or vegetable broth instead of butter or oil. Who needs bouillon cubes when you have homemade stock? Basic Stock Recipes
Hot homemade soups, stews and chilli are all easy ways to increase your family's intake of vegetables and fruit. Everything and anything healthy can go into a stock pot. Commercial dried or canned soups can all be enhanced with some beans, fresh vegetables or any leftovers.
People who love creamy soups should put the soup through a blender just before serving & you have the texture of a cream soup without the fat. Add creaminess with cauliflower, squash & root vegetables, ingredients with substance and body. Non-veggie additives could include low fat milks & yogurt, soy & tofu products & nut milks. Thicken with a little whole grain flour or roux Roux Recipes, some instant mashed potato flakes, or some ground flax seed stirred in just before serving will add body & Omega oils. (Don’t heat after adding flax seeds as the nutrition value are lost when heated).
Soups don’t require any great skills, cooks of all ages can make a great soup-don’t forget, its usually even better the next day so make a big batch. You can always freeze it if you don’t need it right away but think how handy it is to come home after a cold, rough day and have a bowl of homemade soup ready in the fridge or freezer just waiting to be heated up! Not only will it taste good, it will stop you from raiding the pantry while you get the rest of dinner ready!
Judy Chong, Head Foodie
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