15-bean Cajun stew with andouille sausage

We tried this recipe: https://hurstbeans.com/recipes/slow-cooker-cajun-15-bean-soup We do not have a slow cooker, so we made some modifications: first, following the bean prep instructions here (https://hurstbeans.com/recipes/15-bean-soup-with-smoked-sausage-swp) and we soaked the 20 oz Hurst's dried beans overnight in 8 cups of water in the fridge (we set the Cajun seasoning packet aside). Second, the next day, we… Continue reading 15-bean Cajun stew with andouille sausage

Split pea soup with smoked turkey (+ potato), version 2

Split pea soup always reminds me of my childhood, when one of my mom's good friends made the soup from scratch (and it took hours). We had a craving for an old fashioned split pea soup, but we were searching for one that didn't use ham or a ham bone. We tried this recipe, which… Continue reading Split pea soup with smoked turkey (+ potato), version 2

Pakistani mildly spiced chick peas (chikad chanay)

I carry a lot of food memories. I recently craved a delicately spiced chick pea side dish that we had enjoyed at a local Afghan kabob place many years ago. While I couldn't find that exact recipe, I stumbled upon this Pakistani recipe: https://sabihaskitchen.com/chikad-chanay/ Our modifications: first, after soaking the 1 lb dried chick peas… Continue reading Pakistani mildly spiced chick peas (chikad chanay)

Italian pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli )

We had an incredible homemade pasta e fagioli over the holidays, and we felt inspired to try a recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/pasta-e-fagioli Our modifications: first, instead of a ham hock, we browned 1 oz center cut bacon cut into match sticks. We also used 2 parmesan rinds. Second, we did a quick soak of 8 oz dried… Continue reading Italian pasta and bean soup (pasta e fagioli )

Portuguese potato and collard greens soup (caldo verde)

We tried this recipe from a great cooking blog, Feasting At Home: https://www.feastingathome.com/caldo-verde/ This is our favorite caldo verde recipe to date. Our modifications: first, for the smoked sausage, we used Aidell's Spanish chorizo (made from chicken). We halved lengthwise and then cut into 1/2" thick half-moons, which we browned in about 2 tsp canola… Continue reading Portuguese potato and collard greens soup (caldo verde)

Middle Eastern style lentil and split yellow pea soup

We were craving a legume-based soup and tried this recipe: https://thishungrykitten.com/2013/03/26/middle-eastern-delight-lentil-and-split-pea-soup/ This was comforting, earthy, and tasty. Our modifications: first, we don’t have a slow cooker, so we made this on the stovetop. Second, we increased the ground cumin and supplemented with ground coriander. Specifically, after sauteeing the onion, we added 2 tsp cumin and…… Continue reading Middle Eastern style lentil and split yellow pea soup

Vegetable soup

This is a flexible soup recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024427-vegetable-soup?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share We used the vegetables we had on hand in the following order: first, onion, carrots, celery; second, russet potato; and finally, pipian squash (related to zucchini), fresh beans, sugar peas, and corn. We used unsalted chicken broth and added 2 Parmesan rinds for umami, so this was not…… Continue reading Vegetable soup

Andouille sausage and vegetable soup

We had a craving for broth-based soup flavored with sausage, so we tried this recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-soup-with-andouille-3364832 Our modifications: first, we used 1/2 lb (2 links) Whole Foods frozen, uncooked chicken andouille sausage, which we cut into 1/2" thick slices, cooked thoroughly, and browned in 1 Tbsp canola oil in a stainless steel, low-walled Dutch oven.… Continue reading Andouille sausage and vegetable soup

Persian lentil soup

We had a craving for lentil soup and were intrigued by this recipe: https://girlandthekitchen.com/persian-lentil-soup/ Although we used chicken broth (4 cups unsalted, 4 cups Better Than Bouillon), this recipe easily could be vegetarian if made with vegetable broth. Although we try to use no-salt canned tomatoes, we used stewed tomatoes (which are seasoned and contain…… Continue reading Persian lentil soup

Tuscan bean soup (ribollita)

We craved a plant-forward soup with beans and leafy greens, so we made this: https://www.feastingathome.com/ribollita-recipe/ We followed the recipe pretty closely, and this was very tasty. We omitted the bacon / pancetta, but we used chicken broth (4 cups unsalted, 2 cups Better Than Bouillon). For the white wine, we estimated a "splash" to be… Continue reading Tuscan bean soup (ribollita)