Last night when I came home from work I was just too tired to cook… So, I fixed my Easy Magical Soup. It is Magical because it seems to come from nowhere and in ten minutes you have a finished wonderful dinner. And it is different every time.
Last night it was a luscious chicken chowder with tiny egg noodles, artichoke hearts, roasted corn, asparagus tips, crimini mushrooms and sweet grape tomatoes in a creamy Marsala laced broth garnished with avocado slices and a sprig of fresh tarragon, effortlessly prepared in ten minutes or less. Another favorite of mine is chicken, mushrooms, asparagus and wild rice. Truly a magical meal.
I make it in the microwave because I can cook it and eat it from the same bowl, and have fewer dishes to wash… Also, it was a hot day, and if I use the microwave, it does not heat up the kitchen as much.
So here are the directions.
Take a bowl that will hold at least a quart and half of fluid… that is 1500 cc.
Add to it 3 cups of chicken broth. I make my own broth and keep it in the freezer in 1 cup portions… but you can use canned or boxed broth or a package of soup mix... I sometimes use Lipton's Chicken Noodle soup mix… with real chicken broth… not the one with real bits of chicken…
Heat the chicken broth for 4 minutes on high in the microwave. While it is heating, assemble the rest of the ingredients…. This is a list of things you can add to the broth. Choose what you want….
STARCH CHOICES
- Fine egg noodles… the tiny ones or other tiny pasta shapes
- Cooked potatoes
- Cooked rice
- Cooked barley or other grain
VEGGIE CHOICES
- Leftover veggies of your choice
- Raw veggies of your choice
PROTEIN CHOICES
- Leftover roast chicken, beef or pork.
- Cooked shrimp or seafood or canned chicken can be used.
SEASONINGS
- Garlic
- Tarragon
- Celery seeds or dried or fresh leaves
- Dried or fresh thyme
- Dried or fresh rosemary
- Crushed red pepper flakes
FINISHES
- Milk, half and half, or sour cream
- Sherry or Marsala wine
- Scallions
- Nutmeg
- Avocado slices
- After 4 minutes in the microwave, the broth will be steaming. It is time to assemble the soup.
- To the hot broth add:
- One starch choice
- One or more veggie choices
- One protein choice
- One seasoning choice
Heat in the microwave on high for three to four minutes or until the noodles are cooked and the soup is hot.
Remove from the microwave and finish with 2-4 oz of milk or cream or sour cream and 1-2 oz of sherry or Marsala wine. A tiny grating of fresh nutmeg gives a nice finish to the soup. You may garnish the soup with a slice or two of avocado or some chopped scallions.
This soup is easy to make, versatile, ready in ten minutes and very nutritious. You can easily get a serving of carbs, some whole grains, a good protein serving, and a couple of veggies with low sodium and no chemical additives in the food…. You can keep it low fat with fat free cream or sour cream. It uses small bits of leftovers and is therefore very cost effective.
But most important of all… it is delicious and satisfying.
Truly a magical dish.
Enjoy,
Angel
