January 31, 2018

Brussels Sprouts Soup

Posted by HI Cookery under 01 January | Tags: , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Brussels Sprouts Soup

January 31: Eat Brussels Sprouts Day

Highlander grew up eating Brussels sprouts and likes them. His mom cooked the baby-looking cabbage as a side dish for some of their Sunday suppers of roast beef, gravy, potatoes and Yorkshire pudding (traditional English meal). But like a lot of people, Islander did not like the taste of Brussels sprouts and passed on them during their family get-togethers. Highlander encouraged her to try making healthy Brussels sprouts in different recipes but she still did not like them…until her college roommate, Champa S., shared one for Brussels sprouts soup (Champa never liked the vegetable before either). Islander was skeptical about the recipe but she gave it a try. She actually liked it! Not only was it easy to make, it did not taste as bitter as the other recipes. Now Brussels sprouts soup is one of the ways she will eat those little leafy greens. Can we convince the skeptics, too, to try this simple soup on “Eat Brussels Sprouts Day”? It is also an appropriate dish to eat as an end to National Soup Month in January.

Recipe

(Adapted from Food.com)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Brussels sprouts (or 1 ½ pounds)
  • 1 sweet onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
  • 4 cups low sodium vegetable stock
  • ¼ cup cream
  • fried onions (optional garnish)

Directions

Rinse the Brussels sprouts to remove any debri. Chop the onions. In a large pot, melt the butter or heat the olive oil. Saute the onions until soft.

Mix in the Brussels sprouts. Pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the sprouts are tender. Puree in batches in a blender.

Transfer the puree back to the pot. Stir in the cream and heat through. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with fried onions. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Find fried onions in the salad section of the grocery store.
  • Search our blog for other soup recipes.
 

January 1, 2016

Creamy Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

Posted by HI Cookery under 01 January | Tags: , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Creamy Carrot and 

Sweet Potato Soup

Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

January: National Soup Month

We (TRY to) make a resolution to eat healthier this year and we started it off by cooking a heart-warming soup from carrots and sweet potatoes. The bright color combinations of these root vegetables remind us of a sunny day when winter weather can be dull and depressing. Both carrots and sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals, such as A and B-complex and beta-carotene, have anti-oxidant properties and are a naturally sweet source of fiber.

Creamy carrot and sweet potato soup is a “souper” healthy way to begin the new year and observe National Soup Month.

Recipe

(Adapted from Healthy Living Made Simple)

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided use
  • 1 cup sweet onion, diced
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 cups carrot, washed, peeled and chopped
  • 4-5 cups sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 3 cups chicken broth, fat-free and less-sodium
  • 3 ½ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons thyme, fresh and roughly chopped (optional garnish)

Directions

In a large pot, melt one tablespoon butter over medium heat. Cook the onions until tender. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg, stirring constantly.

Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

Push this mixture to the side and add the remaining two tablespoons butter. Turn up the heat and melt the butter until brown (about a minute). Add the carrots, sweet potatoes. Pour in the chicken broth and water.

Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

Add the thyme. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Cover and simmer until the carrots and sweet potatoes are tender (about 35 minutes). In a blender, working in batches, place the soup mixture and puree until smooth. Be careful not to splatter. Return all the pureed soup into the pot over medium-low heat. Stir in the milk and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into soup bowls. Serve hot and garnish with extra thyme.

Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

Notes

  • Substitute ¼ cup half-and-half for the milk and cream.
  • Have a happy and healthy new year!
 

January 6, 2014

Portuguese Bean Soup

Posted by HI Cookery under 01 January | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
[3] Comments 

Portuguese Bean Soup (Slow Cooker)

Portuguese Bean Soup

January 6: National Bean Day

Although Pacific Islanders and Asians dominate Hawaii’s immigrant population, there is a sizable settlement of Europeans (Brits, Scots, Russians, Germans, Spaniards and Portuguese) on the islands.

Portuguese cuisine is especially popular in Hawaii as the people shared their cultural cooking customs at the historic plantations. We especially love their donuts (malassadas), sweet bread (pão doce), sausage (linguiça) and bean soup served in several restaurants and food trucks.

This blog post presents a slow cooker recipe for Portuguese bean soup, a hearty stew of linguiça, ham hocks, vegetables and kidney beans. Portuguese bean soup is perfect for cold winter days, during January’s National Soup Month and National Slow Cooker Month and on National Bean Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from the Star-Advertiser)

For the soup stock

  • 2-3 smoked ham hocks
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
  • 3-5 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped

Directions

Line a 6-quart slow cooker with the appropriate cooking bag. Place the ham hocks in the crock pot and pour water over them. Sprinkle rosemary and crushed garlic.

Portuguese Bean Soup

Chop the cilantro and add to the crock  pot. Cover with the lid and cook on low for at least four hours until the ham hocks are tender. Remove the ham hocks from the crock pot and slice off the meat, discarding the bones and fatty skin. Return to the crock pot and add the remaining stew ingredients.

Portuguese Bean Soup

 For the stew

  • 12 ounces Portuguese sausage, sliced ½-inch thick
  • 2 cups tomatoes, diced
  • 1 large onion, sliced and quartered
  • 1 large potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch slices
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans with liquid
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 3 cups cabbage, shredded

Directions

In the crock pot, add the sliced Portuguese sausage, tomatoes, onions and potatoes.

Portuguese Bean Soup

Mix in the carrots, kidney beans and tomato sauce. Stir until blended. Cover and cook on low for 6-10 hours or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the cabbage, cover and cook for another 30 minutes or until the cabbage is soft. Ladle the stew into soup bowls and garnish with a sprigs of fresh cilantro or parsley. Serve hot with Portuguese sweet bread or over steamed white rice.

Portuguese Bean Soup

Notes

  • Obrigado (thanks) to Lisa L. for the San Miguel rooster prop in the final food photo above that she got for us in Portugal. She also used to be stationed in Hawaii years ago and is back this year for a few months working for the U.S. Navy. Lucky for her, she gets to eat Portuguese bean soup and other authentic local-style foods in Islander’s home state!
  • Other versions of the Portuguese bean soup recipe include macaroni to add texture and thickness to the broth.
 

Next Page »