Soup

When I was growing up, it seemed that at least once a month, my mother would come up with a large pot of homemade soup. Sometimes it would follow a specific recipe, other times, it consisted of leftovers - veggies, cooking liquids, bits of meat, all dumped into containers and stored in the freezer until there was enough to start that pot of soup. It was always one of those comfort foods of my childhood.

Today's six soup recipes include Beef Vegetable Soup, Cheesy Cauliflower Soup, and Hearty Reuben Soup. Enjoy!

VIETNAMESE PHO

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

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vietnamese-pho.

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

BASIL CHICKEN SOUP

Prep Time: 15 Minutes; Cost: $; Servings: 4; Difficulty Level: 2

Source: The Diabetic Newsletter

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/basil-chicken-soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, pressed or minced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

3-1/2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)

1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 cup diced cooked chicken

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/2 cup shredded light jarlsberg cheese

Directions

In a 2 to 3 quart pan, combine butter, onion, and garlic. Stir occasionally over medium heat until onion is limp and slightly tinged with brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour to coat onion. Gradually stir in broth, and bring to a boil on high heat.

Add potato; cover and simmer over low heat until potato is tender when pierced, 15 to 20 minutes. Add chicken; cover and simmer just until chicken is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in basil. Ladle into bowl and offer cheese to add to taste.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 237; Fat: 5.1 g; Sodium: 168 mg; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat

CHEESY CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Prep Time: 15 Minutes; Cost: $; Servings: 4; Difficulty Level: 2

Source: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes"

Book Title: Family Circle's "All-time Favorite Recipes”

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/cheesy-cauliflower-soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped green onion

4 cups chicken broth

2 packages (8 ounces each) fresh cauliflowerets

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups shredded pepper-Jack cheese (6 ounces)

1/4 cup roasted red peppers

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/4 teaspoon hot-pepper sauce

Directions

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add green onions and saute about 3 minutes or until tender. Add 3 cups broth; bring to boiling. Add cauliflowerets; return to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook about 6 minutes or until cauliflower is almost tender.

Whisk together flour and remaining 1 cup chicken broth in a small bowl. Stir into saucepan. Bring to boiling; cook, stirring occasionally, 2-3 minutes or until soup is thickened.

Remove soup from heat. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Stir in roasted red peppers, salt if using and hot-pepper sauce, breaking up red peppers with a wooden spoon.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 294; Fat: 15 g; Protein: 15 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2 Medium-Fat Meat, 1 Fat

HEARTY REUBEN SOUP

This recipe begins, “A popular sandwich inspires a great soup! Start with the convenience of canned broth from your pantry. Then blend in the flavors of canned sauerkraut corned beef onion, bell pepper and celery, and then Swiss cheese to make this soup a family favorite.”

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/hearty-reuben-soup.

Ingredients

1/2 cup canned low-sodium beef broth

1/2 cup canned low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 cups fat-free evaporated milk or half-and-half cream

1 cup shredded corned beef

3/4 up canned sauerkraut

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Bring beef and chicken broths, celery, onion and green pepper to a boil in a heavy saucepan; reduce heat. Simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Dissolve the cornstarch in the milk. Stir into soup and simmer until soup thickens.

Add corned beef and sauerkraut; heat through.

Stir in cheese just until melted. Do not allow to boil; season with pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 190; Fat: 4.5 g; Saturated Fat: 4.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 500 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

TEN-MINUTE GAZPACHO

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/ten-minute-gazpacho.

Ingredients

2 cups tomato juice, preferably reduced-sodium

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. bread crumbs

1/2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup seeded and diced cucumber

1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper

1 plum tomato, seeded and finely diced

1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

1/4 cup zucchini, finely diced (optional)

1 hard boiled egg white, finely chopped (optional)

Directions

In a blender, purée tomato juice, garlic and olive oil.

Add bread crumbs and vinegar, and blend to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pour into a covered container and chill well, from 2 hours to overnight.

When ready to serve, adjust seasonings if necessary.

Divide soup among 4 serving bowls.

Add 1 Tbsp. each of diced cucumber, pepper, tomato and onion, plus zucchini and egg white if desired. (Or add diced vegetables to juice mixture before serving.)

Notes:

Many nutrition experts advise choosing vegetables and fruits in deep colors – dark green, yellow, orange and red. Since different colors often indicate the presence of different phytochemicals, eating a rainbow of colors is a good way to bolster your health defenses.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 97 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g

BEEF VEGETABLE SOUP

Recipe Yield: Servings: 10

Source: Suzi Castle's Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods

Book Title: Suzi Castle's Deliciously Healthy Favorite Foods

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

Ingredients

1 beef shank bone with 1lb. meat

2-1/2 quarts water

2 bay leaves

1/3 cup chopped celery leaves

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp Morton Lite Salt Mixture

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 envelope (1oz.) onion soup mix

1 can (15oz.) stewed tomatoes with juice

1 package (10oz.) frozen mixed vegetables

1 cup peeled, diced potatoes

1 cup sliced celery

Directions

Remove any fat from the beef.

In a large, covered soup pot, simmer the beef bone with meat in water with bay leaves, celery leaves, parsley, Morton Lite Salt Mixture, pepper, and onion soup mix until meat is tender, about 2-1/2 hours.

Remove the one, meat and bay leaves. Chill broth and remove any fat. Cut meat into bite size pieces and return to broth. Discard bone and bay leaves.

Add tomatoes, frozen vegetables, potatoes, and celery.

Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 106; Fat: 2.46 g; Sodium: 306 mg; Cholesterol: 28 mg; Protein: 12.2 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 lean meat; 1/2 bread; 1 vegetable