Calabaza, Corn, and Coconut Soup

This soup is a great combination of flavors. The squash can be found at your international markets or substitute with butternut squash.  Add a swirl of creme fraiche to the relish or a lump of crab meat for a change

For soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro stems

2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 (2 1/4-pound) piece calabaza squash or 1 (2 1/2-pound) whole kabocha squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (6 cups)

4 cups water

1 1/4 cups well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk (12 ounces)

3 ears of corn (fresh or thawed frozen), kernels cut off and reserved for relish (below) and cobs halved crosswise

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

For corn relish:

4 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pinch of sugar

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups corn kernels (see above)

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

Directions

Make soup:
Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften and edges are browned, about 4 minutes. Add cilantro stems and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add squash pieces and cook, stirring frequently, 3 minutes. Stir in water, coconut milk, corn cobs, salt, and cayenne and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until squash is very tender, about 15 minutes.

Prepare corn relish while soup simmers:
Whisk together lime juice, salt, and sugar in a bowl, then add oil and whisk until combined.

Cook corn kernels in a saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in a sieve, then rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well, then transfer to dressing along with cilantro and shallot and toss well to coat.

Finish soup:
Discard corn cobs, then purée soup in batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids) until smooth, transferring to a 2-quart measure.

Divide soup among bowls and gently stir 1/4 cup corn relish into each.

Moroccan Spiced Chickpea and Lentil Soup

Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and saffron infuse each spoonful of this savory soup — a hearty combination of lentils, chickpeas, fennel, onions and tomatoes. Pick up the spice profile with a dollop of Charmoula, a Moroccan condiment with garlic, cumin, cilantro and jalapeño. Great with a warm whole wheat pita and a simple salad on the side.

Ingredients

Charmoula
4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
1 clove garlic
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and deveined
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 bunch cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste Soup
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 fennel bulb, chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 medium white onion, chopped
2 (14-ounces) cans chopped tomatoes, with their liquid
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Pinch of saffron threads (optional)
4 cups gluten-free, low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup dried lentils (green, brown, red or yellow), picked through and rinsed
4 sprigs cilantro
4 sprigs parsley
2 dried bay leaves
2 tablespoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Directions

For the charmoula, mix 4 tablespoons of the oil, cumin, garlic, jalapeños, and lemon juice in a food processor to make a purée. Pick cilantro leaves from their stems and add to food processor along with zest and salt and pepper. Pulse mixture a couple of times, scraping it down from the side of the bowl in between pulses. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil if needed. The mixture should resemble a rustic pesto. Place in tightly closed container and refrigerate for up to two days.

For the soup, heat oil in a 4-quart pot with over medium heat. Add fennel and gently cooking for a couple of minutes while the fennel releases its natural juices. Add red and white onions and cook until soft and translucent, stirring mixture from time to time, about 12 minutes. Add tomatoes with their liquid and increase heat to high until the mixture comes to a simmer. Add the ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic and saffron, if using, and let them infuse the mixture with their flavors for a few more minutes.

Add broth, lentils, cilantro and parsley sprigs, and bay leaves and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Add sugar and salt and pepper, stirring the mixture a couple of times. Cover pot and let simmer for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Add chickpeas and cook, uncovered, for another 5 to 7 minutes until heated through. Mix well and season again with salt and pepper. Remove and discard bay leaves, cilantro, and parsley.

Serve soup hot, with 1 tablespoon of the reserved charmoula on top, if desired. (For a thicker soup, remove about 1 cup of the cooked lentils and chickpeas from the soup and process them in blender, adding some extra liquid if needed. Add the blended mixture back to the soup. For a thinner soup, add extra vegetable broth.)

Tuscan Bread and Vegetable Soup

Ribollita ("re-boiled" in Italian) generally refers to leftover hearty vegetable soup with stale bread added during reheating. In our version of this classic Italian soup, we combine fennel, carrots, green beans and kale with hearty cannelini beans, chicken and sourdough bread for a robust and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 fennel bulb, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, with their liquid
8 boneless chicken thighs
1 dried bay leaf
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 sprig parsley
2 (15-ounce) cans cannelini beans, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chopped kale or baby spinach
2 cups roughly chopped green beans
1 cup 1/2-inch cubes day-old sourdough or country bread
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a 6-quart Dutch oven heat oil over medium high heat. Add onions and fennel and cook, stirring from time to time, until fragrant and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add carrots and cook for another 2 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes with their liquid and let cook for 10 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add chicken, bay leaf, 4 cups of the broth and parsley and increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for another 20 minutes.

Put 1 can of beans and remaining 1 cup broth into a blender and purée. Uncover pot and season with salt and pepper, bearing in mind that there will be some Parmesan cheese added at the end, so salt should be used lightly. Add bean purée, remaining can of beans, and kale and stir. Cook for another 3 minutes, then add green beans. Cook for about 3 more minutes, then add bread and stir. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.

If the soup is deemed too thick, add a cup of water, bring back to a simmer, taste and reseason with salt and pepper. Serve soup ladled into bowls and topped with Parmesan cheese and an extra drizzling of olive oil, if you like.

Zuppa di Matrimonio all`Italiana - Italian Wedding Soup

My husband grew up with an Italian mother and grandmother who loved to cook. Wedding soup was a must have for Christmas day.


1 cup Pastina
1/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
3 quarts chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1 6 oz bag fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup Parmigiano cheese, grated


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 15 minutes. Add egg, ground beef and ground pork to breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
Roll mixture into 1 inch balls. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until cooked through.
Heat olive oil in a large stock pot. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Cook for 1 minute.
Add chicken broth and bay leaf to stockpot. Bring to boil.
Add Pastina to chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add spinach and meatballs to broth and simmer 5 additional minutes.
Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle with grated chees