Autumn is the perfect season to cozy up in your knits with your favorite bowl of soup. Chilly weather calls for hearty soups, stews, bisques, and chili. This is the best time to take out that soup pot and get cooking. You can make big batches of soup and freeze them in airtight containers. Here are some delicious and comforting soup that are perfect for a fall evening.
• Tomato & Basil Soup
Start with sautéing the tomatoes with salt, pepper and olive oil. Sauté some garlic in olive oil and add a handful of basil. Now, transfer the tomato and basil in a food processor and blitz until smooth. Add a tablespoon of heavy cream to add a smooth texture to the soup. Pour the soup mix in a pot and simmer it on low heat for ten minutes. To make cheesy croutons, cut the sourdough into small squares and sauté it in olive oil with a bit of oregano. Pour a ladle of hot soup in a bowl and top it with crunchy croutons. Grate some parmesan on top of the croutons. Garnish with a few chopped basil leaves and serve warm.
• Five Vegetables Stew
This vegetable stew is a treat of flavors for your taste buds. Start with boiling red lentils. Sauté some ginger and grated fresh garlic in olive oil. Add one chopped red onion and allow it to caramelize. Add coriander, cumin, paprika powder, salt and pepper to taste. Now, add chopped celery, carrots, mushrooms, butternut squash, zucchini, and cooked lentils. Add 500 ml of vegetable broth and let it simmer for 20 minutes on low heat. You can add some coconut milk to make creamier. Add some spinach just before turning off the heat. Put some steamed basmati rice in a bowl and pour a ladle of the stew over it. Sprinkle some coriander leaves and serve hot with a wedge of lime.
• Beans Chili
This chili recipe starts with cooking three types of beans- kidney beans, lima beans, and butterbeans. Sauté some onion and garlic. Add shredded ginger and chopped red chili for added heat. Pour a can of crushed tomatoes and keep stirring. Add in turmeric, coriander, cumin, and dry ginger powder. Add a squeeze of tomato paste. Slowly stir in the cooked beans. Cover the lid and allow it to cook for another 20 minutes. Add a portion of brown rice and pour over the chili. Garnish with a sliced avocado and fresh coriander. Serve warm.
• Mushroom & Rosemary Soup
Start with sautéing one medium onion in olive oil. Add minced garlic cloves, thyme and rosemary leaves. Soak an assortment (choose some dry mushroom varieties like shitake or portobello) of mushrooms- button, enoki, cremini, chanterelle, and oyster in warm water and slice roughly. . . Add the mushroom in the pan and cook till it caramelizes. Add two tablespoons of cream and cook for fifteen minutes. Transfer the mix to a food processor and blitz until blended. Pour a ladle of creamy mushroom soup in a bowl and garnish with fresh thyme.
These soups and stews are easy to prepare and require only a few ingredients. You can use more herbs and spices to add a punch of flavor. Customize them according to your mood and taste and enjoy cold evenings.
