Soup Starters!

By Brook Slee, Boise Co-op Deli Chef

Most of the soups I prepare, whether in the Boise Co-op Deli or at home, begin with the same basic ingredients. It gives me a simple and flexible base from which to launch a dazzling array of interesting soups.

The absolute basics are:

• 2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 to 3 cups Mirepoix, which is a blend of yellow onion, carrot and celery. By varying the size of the dice or your aromatics, you can coax lots of unique textures from these three staple veggies. Use a large chunky chop for hearty stews, or a medium dice for soups such as chicken noodle or creamy chowders. Finally a fine mince for bean and lentil soups (you may decide to pulse these ingredients in a food processor.)
• A pinch Salt and Pepper
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (or Tamari sauce for a vegan or vegetarian substitute. We also carry Gluten-Free condiments on Aisle #10)
• 2 to 3 Tbsp Dry Cooking Sherry
• 1 tsp Tabasco (or your favorite hot sauce)
• 8 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth (homemade is best, but we have lots of delicious, organic options on Aisle# 7)

Instructions

Heat olive oil over medium high heat, in a large stock pot. Add the mirepoix (vegetables) and stir frequently, until the vegetables begin to soften. Lower the heat and add salt, pepper, worcestershire or tamari sauce, sherry and tabasco. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.

Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally or until the mirepoix vegetables are tender.

A Few Notes:

Prior to adding the broth, you may add diced meats such as chicken, turkey or even sausages.

If you decide to prepare a bean soup, I would suggest soaking the beans overnight to soften them and help shorten the cooking time.

If preparing a lentil soup, make sure you sweat the lentils in the oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes before adding the broth. This will give a bit of a tender crunch to the lentils and helps prevent a mushy result.

If you are making a chowder, you will need to prepare a roux (recipe follows), and add the desired amount of heavy cream to give it that so distinctive richness.

The addition of a roux base in chicken noodle soups will give the soup a delicious silky texture.

Making a Roux

1 Tbsp Butter

2 Tbsp Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

Broth or Milk from your Soup Recipe

In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat and add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes or until the flour turns a  golden brown color. Slowly add the broth or milk in your recipe, whisking constantly until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and whisk in the salt, pepper.