Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Good veggie soup book, anyone?

13 replies

Mij · 10/09/2010 11:53

We need to economise, so one of my plans is to get a decent food processor (our hand one has just died) and start making a couple of soups a week with seasonal veg. We're also up to our ears in work at the moment and Nigel Slater seems to specialise in high-effort soups. Anyone got a recommendation for a good soup book with quick and easy (or at least low attention requiring) recipes, with lots of choice for vegetarians?

Ta!

OP posts:
Mij · 10/09/2010 18:36

Bumping for the evening crowd

OP posts:
Mij · 14/09/2010 23:18

Awww, c'mon guys - surely someone's got a recommendation?

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 15/09/2010 13:34

I use the Delia Smith Cookery Course for EVERYTHING the basic recipe for easy soups is so easy; gently fry onions and garlic in olive oil then add your carrots, celery and soften with tight top on and a little stock. Cont;-

RamblingRosa · 15/09/2010 13:37

The Covent Garden soup recipe books have lots of veggie recipes (and non-veggie too).

RamblingRosa · 15/09/2010 13:38

PS. the thing I like about soups is you don't really need a recipe...you can just make it up as you go along. A nice lentil and sweet potato/butternut squash soup is a good starting place for a cheap, filling, wholesome meal that's easy to make.

ppeatfruit · 15/09/2010 13:39

Sorry I can only post max 5 lines! So if yr using all root veg. add to above with good veg stock and leave very low (I use a diffuser and a v. heavy casserole) you could put in oven. 40 mins should do it.. then liquidise. HTH

PlumBumMum · 15/09/2010 13:42

Oh I have a brilliant soup recipe book

here the new soup bible

my mum bought it for me off the book people years ago, then she turned up a few months ago and said I saw this and got you it for some ideas for more soups, and had bought me the same book againGrin

fanofpeamum · 15/09/2010 13:50

You might find some nice recipes on the Riverford site here - or some ideas for doing other cheap things with veg :)

mollyroger · 15/09/2010 13:59

can i just say the basic premis for soup is : good stock base, liquid and veg. You can make a tasty soup out of pretty much anything.

One of my favourites is carrot and lentil. So easy you don't need a recipe.

for 2 people, soften and onion and a chopped small potato in oil. Add 4 or 5 sliced carrots, 1/2 pint water, a bay leaf, salt and pepper. Add a generous handful of rinsed red lentils, simmer for around 10-12 mins until all veg and lentils have softened. Use a hand held blender til a smoothish consistency. Add any further seasning to suit.

You can add a little cayenne pepper to the simmering for a spicy version, or half teaspoon curry powder.

For carrot and corriander, use a veg stock cub with 3/4 pint of boiling water, and use corriander instead of cayenne. Add plenty of fresh corriander leaves to serve.

Use the basic onion, potato, water, stock for any veg soup which takes your fancy. Spiced parsnip is yummy, brocolli is gorgrous with a little stilton stirred in towards the end.

For tomato-based soups, omit the potato, and add uncooked pasta, and a variety of tinned beans...

Just have a play around, there is no great mystery about soup.

Mij · 15/09/2010 19:12

Thanks everyone.

The thing with the 'you don't need a recipe' line, is that when I've tried before they all end up tasting the same. A bit like pasta sauces when I was a student! I feel like I need a bit of practise following recipes, then when I've got my confidence and can see what works with what and why, I'm sure I'll be able to strike out on my own. Like getting the hang of a basic biscuit or scone recipe, or even my breakmaker. I'm a reasonably competent cook but I'm not an instinctual one, iyswim. I like instructions to make me feel secure, and when I've got there I can be more creative.

Oh, and the other thing is that I like smooth soups and DP likes chunky ones, but when I've tried to make those they come out too watery. Again, I need a bit of Janet and John guidance.

Thanks for the basics though posters - I'll be coming back to those when I'm feeling braver.

Grin
OP posts:
Mij · 15/09/2010 20:57

Breakmaker? That's breadmaker, natch

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 16/09/2010 13:12

The most amazing book I've got is Jane Grigson's Vegetable Book printed by Michael Joseph in 1978 it is old but you'd probably get it on Amazon cheaply. Full of good recipes for everything.

LetThereBeRock · 16/09/2010 16:14

I have,and love,this one.

It isn't entirely vegetarian but the majority of recipes are. Some are very unusual e.g lotus flower soup, but there are many plainer recipes, tomato,mushroom, carrot and coriander, vegetable etc.

It also has tips on making stock, blending soups,garnishes,which vegetables and herbs to use,thickening soups etc.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page