6 TIPS FOR BETTER SOUP

By Chef Stacy Maple

It's Soup Season!

The air is cooler, the days are shorter and the tree tops are a kaleidoscope of red, orange and yellow hues.  It’s autumn and time for soup!   Here are six tips for cooking soup that will make your soups taste better and save you time in the kitchen this season.

6 Tips for Better Soups

Tip #1:  Sweat Aromatics 

Start all soups by sweating aromatics in a small amount of oil or butter in the bottom of your soup pot.  Aromatics are onions, garlic, shallots and leeks. Once they have softened, THEN add fresh vegetables, raw meats, herbs and spices.

Tip #2:  Add Stock Last  

Once your aromatics are softened, add fresh vegetables, raw meats, herbs and spices.  Add your stock LAST.  If you add your stock too early, the ingredients will lose their flavors in the stock.  By adding stock last, the flavors of your ingredients develop in layers. These layers make your soup taste better, adding richness and depth in flavor. 

Tip #3:   Use Delicious, Slurp-able Liquids

Soups are mostly liquid disguised as broth, stock, wine or cream.  Whatever the liquid in your soup, use one that you want to drink…or slurp!  

Tip #4:  Use a Heavy Soup Pot 

A large, heavy bottom pot is essential.  A heavy bottom pot holds heat well, allowing you to maintain steady simmers and gentle boils longer and will help prevent scorching your soup.  It will also keep your soup warmer longer when it comes time to serve it.

Tip #5:  Make it Spoon Sized 

Cut ingredients to bite sized pieces that fit easily on your spoon.  Remember this for garnishes too.

Tip #6:  Garnish Your Soup 

A garnish can add a pop of flavor, a little bite or texture and a splash of color to your soup.  Garnish with citrus zest, dried fruit pieces or spicy peppers to brighten the flavors in an otherwise heavy soup.  Garnish with small toasted croutons, tortilla strips or a few crumbles of cheese to add texture and a little bite to a soup that is smooth.  Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika or a dollop of sour cream and fresh herbs to add color and eye appeal.  The right garnish can take a good soup and make it great!

Fresh Summer Salsas

For many of us, May marked the beginning of another hectic summer season with Mother’s Day get-togethers, high school proms, graduation parties and end-of-school celebrations.  Now, there are hedges to clip, lawns to mow and flowers to prune.  With all the planning and schedule juggling that the summer demands,” quick” and “easy” are two words that connect with anyone trying to plan fresh, meals in the summer. 

On the bright side, our local farm markets and road-side stands are open again and stocked with lovely late spring and early summer vegetables, like Georgia grown berries, tomatoes and early sweet corn varieties.  These vegetables are especially easy to find right now and make delightfully simple, fresh salsas that can be used for far more than dipping tortilla chips.

These quick and easy, Fresh Summer Salsa recipes have very few ingredients, require minimal skill and can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.   Not only are they quick and easy, but these salsas are clean, simple, fun and fresh...no cooking required! Bring it on, summer!

Spicy Pineapple and 
Cucumber Salsa

1 cup Fresh Pineapple, diced

1 cup Fresh Pineapple, pureed

1 cup Cucumber, diced

1 Jalapeno, minced (ribs and seeds removed)

1 TB Red Onion, minced

Fresh Cracked Pepper, to taste 

Chef Stacy's Suggested Pairings:  Serve with Grilled Chicken or Fish

Fresh Berry Salsa

1 cup Strawberries, slightly chunky puree

1 cup Blueberries, slightly chunky puree

1 cup Blackberries, slightly chunky puree

1 cup Raspberries, slightly chunky puree

Raw Sugar, to taste

Chef Stacy's Suggested Pairing: Serve over Yogurt or with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips

Summer Sweet Corn and 

Black Bean Salsa

2 cup Black Beans

1 cup Fresh Sweet Corn

1  cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved

2 TB Cilantro, chopped

2 TB Green Onion, chopped

2 TB Olive Oil

1 Lime Zest & Juice

Fresh Cracked Pepper, to taste

Ground Cumin, to taste

Salt, to taste

Chef Stacy's Suggested Pairings: Serve with Grilled Meats, over fresh Garden Greens with slices of fresh Avocado or folded  inside a Pita

Farro Risotto with Spring Vegetables

THE BOUNTY OF SPRING
Spring marks the beginning of an exciting change in our seasonal food scene; a transition from the rich, warm flavors of winter to the light, delicate notes of spring.   It happens quietly. Spinach and arugula greens sprout.  Onions bloom.  Carrots, beets, parsnips and radishes wait to be pulled. Asparagus reaches for the sun and fennel bulbs grow. It is spring. A whole new cast of characters are on the food scene and the starring role belongs to spring vegetables!

 

Farro Risotto with Spring VegetablesRecipe by Chef Stacy Maple

Yield 4-6 servings

Chef Stacy demonstrating how to make
Farro-Risotto recipe at
Farmer D Organics in Decatur, GA

Ingredients:

½ Cup Farro
2 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ cup Shallot, diced small
2 oz Dry Sherry or Dry White Wine
2 Cup Chicken or Vegetable Stock
1 cup Carrots, peeled and diced medium
1 Cup Parsnip, peeled and diced medium
1 Cup Peas
1 Cup Asparagus Tips
1 tsp Salt
¼ tsp White Pepper, ground
2 TB Butter, optional
2 TB Heavy Cream, optional
2 TB Parmesan Cheese, grated, optional

 

 

Directions:

Step 1   Boil Farro in salted water until almost al dente. This will take a variable amount of time, approximately 10 minutes

Step 2   Sauté Shallots in Oil until translucent. Add Drained Farro and cook for 2 minutes.  Add Wine and cook until evaporated.

Making Farro-Risotto with the "RoboStir"

Step 3   Add ½ cup Stock or just enough to cover Farro, simmer to almost dry while stirring.

Step 4   Once Farro has absorbed almost all the liquid and the pan is almost dry, add additional 1/2 Cup of Stock or just enough to cover Farro. Continue simmering while stirring.

Step 5   Once Farro has absorbed almost all the liquid again, add the Carrots and Parsnips and additional ½ cup of Stock. Continue simmering while stirring.

Step 6   Once Farro has absorbed the liquid, add Asparagus and Peas along with remaining Stock.  Continue simmering while stirring until pan is almost dry and vegetables and Farro are barely al dente.

Step 7   Add Salt and Pepper. Remove from heat and stir in Butter and Cream

Step 8   Finish with Cheese, adjust seasoning and serve immediately.

MARINATED LENTIL SALAD WITH TOMATO & FETA

 

Lentils:  Fill up…not out! 

Don’t let their size fool you. Lentils may be the littlest of legumes, but nutritionally they are giants and a great source of cholesterol lowering fiber.  In addition, their fiber helps stabilize blood sugar and lower risk for some cancers. But it doesn’t end here.  Lentils also provide high amounts of seven important minerals, our B-vitamins and protein, all without virtually any fat! With only 230 calories per cup of cooked lentils, this little nutritional giant will fill you up…not out!

Marinated Lentil Salad with Tomato & Feta

Recipe by Chef Stacy Maple

Yields 4-6 people

Ingredients:

2 Cups Green Lentils
2 Garlic Cloves, peeled
1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Zest Whole Lemon
1/3 Cup Balsamic Vinegar (preferably, White Balsamic)
2 Cups Baby Spinach Leaves, thinly sliced
2 Cups Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved
¼ Cup Kalamata Olives, chopped
1/3 Cup Feta, crumbled
Fresh Cracked Pepper
Sea Salt
Capers, to garnish

Directions:

Step 1 

Place the lentils and garlic in a medium sized saucepan and add enough cold water to cover the lentils by 2 inches of water.  Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer and continue
cooking for 20 minutes or until lentils are just tender.

Step 2 

In mixing bowl, whisk together oil, zest and vinegar.

Step 3 

When lentils are finished cooking, drain well and discard garlic cloves.  Add well drained lentils to the bowl of vinaigrette and toss together to coat.  Cover and put in refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.

Step 4 

Once lentils are chilled, add spinach, tomatoes, olives and feta and toss together.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with capers. Serve Immediately.  

Herb Rosted Spring Chicken

Spring Chicken                                                                                                                                                                     

Until I paid a visit to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, I thought a Spring Chicken was just a fanciful thing or a way to romanticize about a chicken that was on the small side.  I soon realized that different varieties of chickens mature at different ages.  Spring Chickens are small, juicy, mildly flavored birds that are perfect for roasting.  In high heat, roasting crisps the bird’s skin and helps preserve their juices.  These little chickens would be wasted in a stew and no fun to fry.  The bird’s flesh is tender and seems to absorb the perfume of herbs well, making them the perfect choice for this herbaceous dish.  Serve Herb Roasted Spring Chicken with traditional spring sides like smashed new potatoes and steamed peas for a lovely meal that is tough to beat this season.

 

Herb Roasted Spring Chicken Recipe

serves 4

30 minutes Prep Tim, Marinate Overnight                                                                                                      30 minutes Cooking Time

Chef’s Notes:  Spring Chickens are sometimes called Poussin ( poo-san).  Poussin is the butcher’s term for a young chicken.  Either birds, Spring Chickens or Poussins are suitable for this dish.  

Ingredients

2 Spring Chickens or Poussins, each about 1 pound

2 TB Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped

1 TB Fresh Rosemary, chopped

1 TB Fresh Tarragon, chopped

1 TB Fresh Thyme, chopped

1 TB Fresh Chives, chopped

2 tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper

¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 TB Kosher Salt

 

Directions:

1 The day before serving, rinse chickens and pat dry.  In a small bowl, whisk together Parsley, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme, Chives, Black Pepper and Oil.  Place each chicken in a quart size resalable plastic bag and pour half of oil mixture into each bag.  Seal the bag tightly and rub the outside of the bags to work the herb mixture into the chickens, covering them entirely.  Refrigerate overnight to allow the herb flavor to penetrate the chickens.

2 The following day, preheat oven to 425 degrees

3 Remove the chickens from the bags and place them on a rack in a roasting pan and allow chickens to come to room temperature.  Roast the chickens for 30 minutes and juices run clear when the bird is poked in the thickest part of the thigh or an instant-read thermometer reaches 165 degrees when inserted in the thickest part of the thigh meat.  Remove from oven and let rest on counter for 10 minutes.

4 To serve, using a very sharp knife, split the birds in half, lengthwise, using the breast bone as a guide.  Cut out back bone and discard it.  Place half of bird on each plate and serve immediately.

 

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Granola

Quinoa: What's All the Fuss About?

America’s fascination with Quinoa (keen-wah) may be new, but this grain has ancient roots that date back more than 3000 years.  With all nine essential amino acids, this little seed is a complete protein and the only one known that comes from a plant. As humans we need protein to build and maintain our muscle mass.  We can’t live without it. If you follow a plant-based diet, Quinoa will be your new best friend. It’s cholesterol-free, gluten-free and protein packed.  Most often used in savory dishes, Quinoa is a blank canvas for the flavors that surround it.  It can be a great replacement for many grains and seeds in your favorite recipes.  Get creative with quinoa and try it in something sweet! Fruit & Nut Quinoa Granola is jam packed with nutrients, textures and flavors.  This granola recipe is so delicious, you’ll forget it’s healthy!    

 

Fruit & Nut Quinoa Granola Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Cup Cooked Quinoa

2 Cups Oats

3 TB Ground Cinnamon, divided

1/4 Cup Almonds, chopped

1/4 Cup Dried Currants

1/4 Cup  Golden Raisins

1/4 Cup Cranberries

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 cup Agave or Honey

Organic Cooking Spray                                                                                                                                                           

Directions:                                                                                                                                                                                    

Step 1

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Step 2

Rinse Quinoa in fine sieve or in colander lined with coffee filter.  In sauce pan, bring 2/3 cup of water and 1/3 cup of uncooked quinoa to a boil.  Reduce heat to lowest setting and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed into the quinoa.  Fluff with fork before using. 

Step 3

Line sheet pan with parchment paper or use a non-stick cooking mat. In a bowl, toss together Quinoa, oats and 2 TB of Cinnamon. Pour on to lined sheet pan. Spray liberally with cooking oil, drizzle with Agave, sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and bake in oven for 10 minutes.  Take out and turn granola with spatula.  Repeat process of turning with spatula, spraying with Oil, sprinkling with Cinnamon and drizzling with Agave every 10 minutes for a total cooking time of 30 minutes using all remaining Cinnamon and Agave. 

Step 4

Remove from oven.  Add Nuts, dried Fruit and Seeds. Return to oven for 5 minutes.  Remove and let cool.  Once it is completely cooled, store it in air tight container.  Keep in refrigerator to extend shelf life.

Cozy Split Pea Soup

 

Another winter storm advisory chases me back to the safety of my warm home, much like the ground hog who  peers outside his hole only to retreat further inside his cozy den, waiting for spring.  A trip to the fresh market on these snow covered roads won't happen today and Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare.  Thankfully, a few staple ingredients are all that is needed to make this hardy pot of soup.   The epitome of comfort food, warm, soothing and pleasing to the soul, Cozy Split Pea Soup is guaranteed to thaw your winter freeze... whether there is snow outside or not!

 

Prep Time 10 minutes/Cooking Time 55 minutes
Immersion Blender, recommended

Ingredients

2 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 ½ C Onion, small diced
1 TB Garlic, minced
2 C Dried Split Peas, Green or Yellow
1 Bay Leaf
½ tsp Dried Marjoram
2 TB Salt
Black Pepper, Fresh ground
2 QT Vegetable Stock, Low Sodium

Directions

1.  In colander, rinse peas and pick out any small stones or debris.

2.  In a large soup pot, heat the Oil.  Add onion and cook over medium high heat until onion begins to soften, stirring frequently.   Add Garlic, Split Peas, Bay Leaf, Marjoram, Salt and a few generous grinds of Black Pepper.   Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently as mixture starts to caramelize. Careful not to burn peas.  

3.  Add stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes or until peas are soft and tender. Stirring occasionally.

5.  Remove from heat.  Pluck out the Bay Leaf.  Using an immersion blender, puree soup until desired consistency is reached.  (A traditional blender or food processor can be used, letting the soup cool to room temperature before blending it.  Blending hot liquids in a traditional blender can be dangerous.) Soup can be thinned down with additional stock or water, if required.  Adjust seasoning to suit your tastes. 

6.  Ladle soup into bowls.  Serve as is or top with freshly chopped chives or scallions, a dollop of Greek yogurt, crumbled bacon or a sprinkle of smoked salt and cracked black pepper.