Recipe: Spiced Root Veg Soup

[moonlitjoy]

Makes at least four servings, depending on how hungry you are.



Ingredients

• 
  2 leeks
  
• 
  1 large or 2 smaller onions
  
• 
  4 cloves of garlic
  
• 
  1 parsnip
  
• 
  Half of a swede (which I think is also called yellow turnip or rutabaga? I always just called it swede!)
  
• 
  2 large or 3 smaller carrots
  
• 
  6 or more potatoes, depending on the size of your soup pan!
  
• 
  2 cups soup or broth mix, soaked overnight in water
  
• 
  1 tin beans (butter, cannellini or borlotti all work especially well in this)
  
• 
  Enough vegetable stock to cover
  
• 
  Oil and butter or margarine for frying
  

Seasonings (adjust to your personal taste)

• 
  1 tbsp turmeric
  
• 
  1 tbsp garam masala
  
• 
  2 tsp coriander leaf
  
• 
  2 tsp cumin
  
• 
  1 tsp ground mixed spice
  
• 
  Liberal sprinkle black pepper
  

Method

• 
  Chop leeks, onions and garlic
  
• 
  Fry gently in a little oil with a knob of butter (gives a lovely creamy texture to the soup base)
  
• 
  Chop all root veg into smallish pieces
  
• 
  Add to the cooked leeks and onions
  
• 
  Add soup mix and tinned beans
  
• 
  Pour over enough stock to cover plus half an inch or so extra
  
• 
  Add all seasonings
  
• 
  Boil rapidly for ten minutes (this step arose from the need to boil the soup mix rapidly, if you omit that you can gently bring it to a simmer and skip this step)
  
• 
  Lower heat, cover with a lid, and simmer for 45 minutes until all veg is tender, pulses are cooked and flavours have had a chance to infuse.
  
• 
  Stir occasionally, and check water levels, adding more if needed
  
• 
  You could puree this, but I simply mash part of it, leaving a soup that is hearty with a good texture and recognisable ingredients
  

Serving suggestions
This is warming and filling alone, and even better the next day after the flavours have had a long time to infuse. However, it also works wonderfully with the addition of some cooked chicken, sliced sausage, or with dumplings. Cheesy garlic bread or toast makes a tasty accompaniment.

Freezer food
I scale this up to make about ten servings (three pans of soup on the go at once!). It freezes well and is hearty enough to feel nutritious when you want something quick and easy - simply defrost and serve however you like it. It works out at about 80p per serving even paying supermarket prices - it would be even cheaper if you went to a grocer or farmer's market with cheaper prices.