Soup's On!

When I was growing up, it seemed that my mother would make a huge steaming pot of homemade soup at least once a month, then serve it out of an antique soup tureen. Maybe she needed an excuse to use the tureen, or use up left-overs, or simply fix something hot and filling. Either way, the thought of homemade soups bring back memories.

Here are six yummy diabetic-approved soup recipes that I'm sure my mother would have been proud to serve, including Calypso Beef Soup and Turkey-Vegetable Soup. Enjoy!

FRENCH COUNTRY BEAN SOUP

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings (with chicken)

Source: AICR

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/french-country-bean-soup

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 carrot, cut in half-moons

1 rib celery, sliced

1 small onion, chopped in bite-size pieces

1 small leek, chopped in bite-size pieces

3 outer leaves Savoy cabbage, rolled and cut in 1/2" strips

4 cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 garlic clove, chopped

2 cups squash (e.g. butternut), peeled and diced

1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas or white beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup cooked chicken cut in bite-size pieces(optional)

Directions

Heat oil in medium Dutch oven or large, deep saucepan. Saute carrot, celery, onion, leek, and cabbage until leaves are bright green and other vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add broth. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add thyme, garlic, squash and beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in chicken, if using. Ladle soup into deep bowls and serve accompanied by toasted slices of whole-grain French bread or other rustic bread. (This soup reheats well. It keeps up to 5 days, covered, in refrigerator.)

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 123; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 464 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Lean-Meat, 1 Vegetable

VIETNAMESE PHO

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vietnamese-pho

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings. Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups

Ingredients

Soup Ingredients:

1/2 lb sirloin tip, sliced very thinly

1-1/2 Tbsp canola oil, divided

1 small onion, sliced into thin rings

4 cups sodium-reduced beef stock

2 cups water

1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger

1 stalk lemongrass chopped or 3 Tbsp dried lemongrass

1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns

1 cinnamon stick

4 oz ounces rice vermicelli noodles

2 cups bean sprouts

Garnish Ingredients:

1 lime, quartered

1/2 cup each fresh basil, mint and cilantro each

1 small jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

1 Tbsp fish sauce

Directions

In large saucepan, heat 1 Tbsp canola oil over medium heat. Add beef and cook for about 2-3 minutes. It won’t be cooked through. Set aside.

Add 1/2 Tbsp canola oil to saucepan. Add onions and cook for about 3 minutes. Add beef stock, water, ginger, lemongrass, peppercorns and cinnamon stick, simmer for about 1 hour. (Broth can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, if preferred.)

Meanwhile, place rice vermicelli in bowl and cover with very hot water. Place lid on top and allow to sit for about 3 minutes.

Prepare garnish plate: Arrange limes, basil, mint, cilantro, jalapeno and small bowl of fish sauce on a plate.

Add beef to stock mixture and cook to desired doneness.

To serve: Divide rice vermicelli and sprouts evenly in 4 bowls. Pour hot broth-beef mixture over top. Garnish as desired from the garnish plate.

Notes: This recipe was inspired by Pho, a traditional Vietnamese soup. You can modify the recipe by using vegetable stock and tofu for a vegetarian version.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 270; Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 115 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Protein: 20 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

CALYPSO BEEF SOUP

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

Recipe Yield: Makes 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/calypso-beef-soup

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; Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 6 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 327 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g

VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Yield: 6 servings. Serving size: about 1 cup soup.

View online here.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped turnip

6 cups fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 ounces uncooked yolk-free wide noodles

1 cup boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and diced

Directions

Combine celery, leek, carrot, turnip, and 1/3 cup chicken broth in large saucepan. Cover; cook over medium heat 12 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in remaining 5 2/3 cups broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar, and pepper; bring to a boil. Add noodles; cook until noodles are tender.

Stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until heated through.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 98 calories, Carbohydrates: 12 g, Protein: 10 g, Fat: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 18 mg, Sodium: 73 mg, Fiber: 1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Vegetable, 1 Meat.

TURKEY-VEGETABLE SOUP

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook

Book Title: Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/turkey-vegetable-soup

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey or chicken breast

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

2 tablespoons sliced green onion

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

8 cups low-sodium chicken broth

6 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

3 stalks celery, sliced

2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4" slices

2 cups uncooked medium-wide egg noodles or rotelle pasta

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Mix turkey, thyme, green onion, cornstarch, garlic salt and pepper. Shape into 1" meatballs. Place chicken broth in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Add carrots and celery. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Add meatballs, zucchini, noodles or pasta and parsley to simmering chicken broth. Simmer for 15 minutes longer.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 217; Fat: 3.4 g; Sodium: 238 mg; Cholesterol: 37.4 mg; Protein: 26.5 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Lean Meat, 1-1/2 Bread/Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

CURRIED POTATO CHOWDER

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

Source: Joslin Diabetes Gourmet Cookbook

Book Title: Joslin Diabetes Gourmet Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/curried-potato-chowder

Ingredients

Olive oil cooking spray

2 large onions, about 1 pound thinly sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 tbls dry English mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup plain nonfat yogurt

1/8 tsp sugar

Grated lemon zest of garnish

3 cups beef stock

Thin cucumber slices for garnish

2 large russet potatoes

Directions

In a large, nonstick, covered skillet that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray, cook onions and garlic over low heat until onions are soft, about 15 minutes.

Uncover, stir in sugar, and continue to cook, stirring often, until onions begin to brown.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring stock to a boil. Add potatoes, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Add onions.

Add wine to skillet; stir to lossen any browned bits. Transfer wine mixture to potato mixture. Return to a simmer.

Cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until potatoes begin to fall apart and soup thickens. Stir in curry powder and dry mustard.

Remove soup from stove; stir in yogurt. Return soup to stove; heat through. Do not allow to boil.

Ladle into hot soup plates; with grated lemon zest and cucumber slices as garnish.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 137; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 45 mg; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 bread/starch