Posts tagged ‘Soup’

January 16, 2013

Asian Noodle Pot with Chicken & Veggies

Asian Noodle Hot Pot

Just a quick post to share this delicious dish with everyone. I was in search of something different to make for dinner that would warm our bones on a rainy winter night. Truth be told, it’s been unseasonable warm so far this winter. Regardless, the rain makes me want to curl up with a good book, cup of coffee, or a bowl of something steaming and delicious.

I searched around online for an Asian chicken noodle soup recipe and found one from Food and Wine that looked promising. I doctored it up slightly adding lots of vegetables and it was fantastic. I think you could easily make this vegetarian by changing out the chicken stock for vegetable stock and omitting the chicken. It would also be amazing with shrimp! Alas, my husband is allergic… no shrimp in our house. The recipe called for spaghettini, but I think rice noodles would be equally nice. This dish reminded us of a hot and sour vegetable soup we always order from our local Thai restaurant. Super healthy and full of flavor with a spicy kick. This will be a regular on our dinner table.

Asian Noodle Hot Pot

Adapted from Food & Wine

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tbsp grapeseed oil or other neutral cooking oil
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if you want it really spicy)
  • 1 1/2 qts chicken stock (48oz)
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 3 tbsp Asian fish sauce
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves, plus additional 1/4 cup chopped
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 lb spaghettini (angel hair or spaghetti is fine also)
  • 2 small baby bok choy, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, matchstick sliced
  • 1 cup snap peas
  • 1 cup snow peas
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • Sliced scallions for serving
  • Sriracha sauce for serving (optional and only if you want it really spicy)

Heat a heavy dutch oven over moderate heat and add the oils to the pan. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, chili powder and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything softens and becomes fragrant.

Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, whole chicken thighs, fish sauce, salt and cilantro leaves. Stir to combine and bring to a hearty simmer. Reduce the heat and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

While the soup is cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles until just underdone. About a minute less than the package states. They will cook for a minute in the soup and you don’t want them to over cook. Drain and set aside.

Remove the chicken from the pot once it’s cooked properly and cut into bite sized pieces. Allow the broth to simmer for another 10 minutes. At this point, add the bok choy, bell pepper and snap peas. Cook for another 3 minutes. Add the snow peas, chicken, pasta, remaining chopped cilantro and lime juice. Cook for another minute. Stir and serve.

Top with sliced scallions. If you like it hot, add a squirt of Sriracha sauce.

Enjoy!

November 13, 2012

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. Life has been hectic to say the least. The Northeast survived Hurricane Sandy with terrible damage and devastation to our shorelines and throughout the tri-state area. Our prayers continue to go out to those who have lost so much. I feel fortunate having only lost a number of big trees and of course, power for a week. I know there are many folks not far from us that still don’t have power. The whole experience gave me a new appreciation for the simple things… electricity, heat, and gas stations that have no lines, and gas. I think we take these things for granted as we go about our day. Think of all the countries in the world where much of their population doesn’t have electricity or running water… or shoes.

With all the stormy weather and colder temperatures, a big bowl of soup was in order. Ladled into bowls with a sprinkle of fresh basil and parmesan, this is a delicious weeknight soup you can throw together in a reasonable amount of time. Perfect when accompanied by a sandwich, it’s a great grab-and-go for lunches the next day, too.

This soup is rich and creamy, but with no cream. Blending the softened vegetables using an immersion blender gives you the consistency of a cream soup, without the added fat and calories. I’ve found this works for butternut squash soup, as well. An immersion blender is super convenient, as you take the blender to the food, rather than ladling hot liquids into a blender. They are inexpensive and available at any housewares store.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 3 ripe tomatoes (about 1 1/4lb), quartered and seeded
  • 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
  • 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3/4 cup diced carrot (about 2 small)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 28oz can whole plum tomatoes
  • 2 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 8 whole fresh basil leaves
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp sugar (if needed)

TO ROAST THE VEGETABLES

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place the quartered tomatoes, onion and whole garlic cloves with the fresh thyme on a baking sheet. Drizzle the vegetables with 2 tbsp of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper – toss to coat. Place in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until everything is soft and the onions are beginning to turn a little golden on the edges.

TO MAKE THE SOUP

Heat a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat. Add the remaining tbsp of olive oil and the diced carrot. Sauté until the carrots begin to soften. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine with the carrots, about 2 minutes. Pour in the can of tomatoes and break them up with the back of a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Add the roasted vegetables straight from the oven with the basil leaves, stir to combine. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Taste for reseasoning with salt and pepper. If the tomatoes are a little acidic you can add in the 1/2 tsp of sugar.

Blend the soup using an immersion blender until nice and creamy. Serve with chopped fresh basil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese… a grilled cheese sandwich would go nicely as well.

* You could easily make this vegetarian by using vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock.