How to make Soup from left over Vegetables

Grab those leftover vegetables from the fridge .

How to make soup from left over vegetables.

I made this soup with left over celery. It’s a delicious soup all by itself. It’s really very simple and this recipe could also be used to make other flavours of delicious soup with the little bits of vegetables in the crisper. I always seem to have at least half a bunch of limp celery at any time. We just can’t seem to use a whole lot of celery and then I am very upset if I have to throw it out. Do you struggle with using up celery?

So to solve the celery issue whenever I can I make this soup. It really only takes about 30 minutes or so and that is usually from start to steaming bowl of feeling good finish. Don’t you just love to use up everything you can?  Of course you do, and that is precisely why I suggest you can use this recipe to make soup out of other left overs.  It could be carrots or potatoes. Say you had sweet potatoes going soggy at the corners in your fridge, fennel is a great one too. Sometimes I have half a fennel that has been shaved for salad and is left longing for a new life’s work.

Now what if I told you with a couple of simple additions you could turn this into a stunning dish you would be proud to serve family or friends?.  Well, its true. It’s an even better idea if you consider you can make it whenever you like and then reheat and add the accompaniments when it’s time. This. makes. life. easy.

It looks like this, all dressed up at its tasty best.

There are bits of Chorizo and feta and some crunchy barley bits as well as herbs. You can keep it vegetarian if you like and skip the chorizo, but no matter what vegetable you use or what you use to give it that extra kick, textures, bursts of herbs and salty cheese will make it all better.  The secret is to making good soup is to not be tempted to add too much liquid making it watery and thin. Follow the instructions adding only a smiggen extra if you are using lots of potato type starchy vegetables. Remember you can always add more at the end and thin if required.

Pretty isn’t it? With every bit you get more flavour. The melting cheese the crispy sausage and the chewy nubs of barley.

I cannot get enough.

Here’s the recipe. Feel free to add what ever you have. It should have some kind of potato for a really thick and creamy base with out adding actual flour or fat.

Soup from left over Vegetables

This makes a gorgeous celery soup. You can replace a large amount of celery with another vegetable. This soup will serve 4 as an entrée. ( appetiser)

5 from 2 votes

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Course Soup

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 250 gm onion diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 250 gm potatoes peeled and diced
• 3 sprigs Thyme chopped
• 800 gm celery washed and chopped leaves etc are ok
• 5 gm salt and pepper
• 1 litre chicken or vegetable stock or broth
• 60 ml olive oil
• 1/4 cup Danish feta
• 1 in chorizo sausage diced or sliced and cuthalf
• 1/2 cup of cooked barley or farro or pinenuts
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or baby herbs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup Danish feta
• 20 ml olive oil extra

Instructions

 

• Heat a medium pan on the stove. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the onion and garlic and sweat till starting to soften (5-8 minutes)
• Add the thyme, potatoes and roughly chopped celery. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the stock and simmer on low for about 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper and blend till very smooth ( you could use a hand mixer or processor.)

To make the topping.

• Heat a non stick fry-pan till very hot. Add the oil and the Chorizo and sauté till the chorizo starts to release oil and get caramelized. Then add the barley ( or nuts) and toss till starting to colour slightly and get crisp. You can mop up some of the chorizo oil in the pan if you like but I think it gives the sprinkly bits lots of flavour. Sprinkle in the parley and stir. Keep warm
• When you put soup into each of the bowls, sprinkle with the chorizo and barley and then crumble some of the feta and serve.