Soups & Stews

Creamy Scallop Bisque
25 minutes
2-3

Creamy Scallop Bisque

When you want a soup that’s quick but absolutely delicious, turn to this creamy scallop bisque. It starts with a pound of sea scallops: I used frozen ones, quickly thawed in the bag under running cold water.

 

Double Garlic Soup
30 minutes
4

Double Garlic Soup

Double garlic soup can only be made in the spring, when the long curly flower stems of hardneck garlic are snipped off to encourage the bulbs to form. This soup is creamy and delicious, and surprisingly mild.

 

Creamy Asparagus Soup for 2
2

Creamy Asparagus Soup for 2

While this creamy asparagus soup recipe is scaled for 2 generous servings, it’s easy to scale it up if you have enough asparagus: just double the amount of each ingredient.

 

prep the veggies

This all will go faster if you do all the chopping first: cut tips from the asparagus 1 1/2 inches from top and set aside for a good-looking garnish.

Dill Pickle Soup
45 minutes
8

Dill Pickle Soup

Dill pickle soup is built in stages. First, you’ll make sure your stock is well flavored and enriched with vegetables. Then you’ll cook potatoes in the strained stock, add back some of the veggies and a bunch of chopped dill pickles.

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Quick White Bean & Escarole Soup
30 minutes
serves 4-6

Quick White Bean & Escarole Soup

a note on ingredients and substitutions

When you make this quick white bean & escarole soup, don’t feel you are required to use every ingredient just as listed. I like to use escarole, which is available throughout the winter, but you could substitute any type or mixture of dark leafy greens: chard,

Stuffed Pepper Soup
60 min
8-10

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Stuffed pepper soup is much easier than actual stuffed peppers, and it’s an incredibly satisfying meal. Suggested pairing: cheese muffins.

 

cook beef and drain

In a large Dutch oven (5-6 qt) over medium heat,

Carrot Ginger Soup
30-45 minutes
4-6

Carrot Ginger Soup

The first soup served to us on our cruise – and there was soup with lunch and dinner every day – was a superb carrot ginger soup. Here is my version: I think it’s pretty close.

 

start with carrots and onions

Peel and slice the carrots.

Meatball & Orzo Soup Two Ways
45 minutes
about 3 quarts

Meatball & Orzo Soup Two Ways

preparation

Thaw the meatballs, if you’re using frozen (I use the microwave). If they are tiny meatballs, leave them whole; otherwise, cut them in halves or quarters, so that they are bite-sized. Chop the onion into fine dice (you’ll have about 1 cup).

Overnight Chicken Stock
8-12 hours
makes 6-10 quarts

Overnight Chicken Stock

chicken carcass in the pot

In the aftermath of a roast chicken dinner, I make overnight chicken stock. For one chicken carcass, I use an 8 quart stockpot. Naturally, I strip all the meat off the chicken bones. Remove any lemon or herbs from the cavity,

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Family Friendly Chili
30 min active, 4-8 hours in slow cooker
6 quarts

Family Friendly Chili

I admit it, I’m a wimp when it comes to hot and spicy! Dose individual bowls with hot sauce for a spicier version, or add cayenne pepper to the pot to make it hotter for everyone.

This makes a big quantity of family friendly chili,

Vegetable Stock
3–4 hours
makes about 3½ quarts

Vegetable Stock

chop all the vegetables

Crush the garlic cloves and chop all the other vegetables coarsely, including the greens. Don’t bother to skin or seed the tomatoes. Add other vegetables if you wish, but not any from the cabbage family, as those will make a smelly end product.

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Goulash Soup – Gulaschsuppe
60 min
serves 6–8

Goulash Soup – Gulaschsuppe

I loved goulash soup – gulaschsuppe – the very first time I tried it. In fact, I brought home a cookbook from that vacation, and a half kilo of paprika!

Heat oil in a heavy Dutch oven, and sauté the onions until they begin to turn golden.

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