Soup's On!

Is there anything better than a bowl of warm, homemade soup for warming one up? There might be, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anything more satisfying than soup when you're chilled.

That said, here are six yummy soup recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

BEET BORSCHT

Yield: 8 servings (about 1-1/4 cups each)

Source: 1,001 Delicious Recipes for People with Diabetes

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/781.shtml

Ingredients

4 medium beets, peeled, cut into julienne strips

8 ounces low-fat smoked Polish sausage, sliced

1/2-1 tablespoon margarine

6 cups reduced-sodium fat-free beef broth

1 small head red cabbage, thinly sliced or shredded

2 carrots, cut into julienne strips

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

2-3 teaspoons sugar or Splenda

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Salt and pepper, to taste

Finely chopped dill weed or parsley, as garnish

Directions

Saute beets and sausage in margarine in Dutch oven 3 to 4 minutes.

Add broth, cabbage, carrots, garlic, bay leaf, sugar, and vinegar; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Discard bay leaf; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pour soup into bowls; sprinkle with dill weed.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 10.9 g; Fat: 3.7 g; Sodium: 437 mg; Cholesterol: 17.2 mg; Saturated Fat: 0.4 g; Carbohydrates: 13.1 g; Exchanges: 3 Vegetable, 1 Meat

TORTILLA SOUP

Yield: Makes 4 servings.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/920.shtml

Ingredients

2 tsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 scallions, sliced thin

2 cans (14.5 oz.) reduced-sodium, fat-free chicken broth

1 cup canned diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 cup frozen corn kernels

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. chili powder

12 oz. cooked chicken, cut in small pieces

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 cup baked tortilla chips, crumbled, for garnish

Low-fat sour cream, for garnish

Directions

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute garlic and scallions until garlic begins to color.

Add broth, tomatoes, corn and spices and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add the chicken and heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Add cilantro and lime juice. Stir and warm through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle into soup bowls, sprinkle with crumbled tortilla chips and add a dollop of sour cream in the center for garnish.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 231; Protein: 31 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 636 mg; Dietary Fiber: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g

CALYPSO BEEF SOUP

This recipe begins, “This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc; and a good source of fiber.”

Makes 6 servings

Source: NCBA

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/819.shtml

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds 95% ground beef

1 cup diced peeled sweet potato

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups water or ready-to-serve beef broth

1 can (15-1/2 ounces) black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained

1 can (13-1/2 ounces) light unsweetened coconut milk

2 cups packed fresh baby spinach leaves

3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

Salt and ground black pepper

Directions

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon. Pour off drippings in pan; add sweet potato, onion, bell pepper and curry powder. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until onion and pepper are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour; cook and stir 1 minute.

Stir in water, black-eyed peas and coconut milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 to 8 minutes or until sweet potato is tender. Stir in spinach and thyme. Cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 308; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 327 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g ; Carbohydrates: 22 g

SOPA DE POLLO A LA MEXICANA – MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP

This recipe begins, “All of your favorite Mexican flavors mix together in this soup. ¡Muy delicioso!”

Yield: 10 servings.

Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1217.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp canola oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, sliced

4 celery stalks, sliced

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp red pepper flakes

8 cups low-sodium chicken stock

2/3 cup lentils

1 can (19 oz) tomatoes, chopped

3 medium carrots, thinly sliced

2 lbs cooked chicken, cubed

1 small zucchini, thinly sliced

1 cup frozen peas

1 small avocado, peeled and sliced

Directions

In Dutch oven, heat canola oil. Add garlic, onion and celery. Saute until vegetables are tender. Season with black pepper, cumin and red pepper flakes.

Add chicken stock, lentils, tomatoes and carrots. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes, or until carrots are tender.

Add chicken, zucchini and peas.

Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until vegetables are tender. Garnish with avocado slices.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 250; Protein: 33 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE SOUP WITH TOASTED ALMONDS AND WILD RICE

Yield: 12 servings.

Serving Size: 1 cup.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1268.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups water

1/2 cup wild rice

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 cups water

1-3 lb Butternut Squash, peeled and flesh cut into 1-inch cubes to yield 8 cups

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp salt, optional

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions

In medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil and add wild rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes or until water is evaporated and rice grains have split open. (Check occasionally to ensure water does not evaporate too quickly causing rice to burn). Drain any excess water and set aside.

In nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, toast almonds to golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Watch so they don’t burn. Remove and set aside.

In large soup pot, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, reduce heat to medium and cook for 3-4 minutes or until opaque; do not allow onions to brown. Stir in broth, water, squash, apple, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until squash and apples are tender. Remove from heat and remove bay leaf and cinnamon stick.

Puree soup with immersion blender or food processor. Return to low heat and stir in salt (if using) and nutmeg. Stir in wild rice to heat through. Spoon soup into bowls and garnish each bowl with 1 Tbsp toasted almonds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g

PUMPKIN SOUP

Makes 8 servings.

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/942.shtml

Ingredients

4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided

4 cups pumpkin puree (canned or fresh) (butternut squash may be substituted)

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 clove garlic

1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 Tbsp. light whipping cream (optional)

1 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Nutmeg (optional)

Directions

In large pot over medium-high heat add 3 cups broth, pumpkin, onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce to low and simmer uncovered, about 30 minutes.

Puree mixture until smooth, in small batches, using blender or food processor. Return to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes. Add remaining broth as desired. (Optional, stir in cream.)

Pour into bowls. Garnish with parsley (or sprinkle of nutmeg) and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 284 mg; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g