Portuguese Soups

[K@t 38]

Hey all,

One of the healthiest and tastiest things that Portuguese people eat is their Soups. Their creamy and filling and full of Vitamins. This is a Soup for people who hate to eat vegetables and who don't get enough minerals and vitamins. There are many variations so I will start with the basics.

The base for any Portuguese soup:

-1 cup cubed pumpkin or acorn squash (Portuguese use pumpkin but I bet you can use any variation of squash and it should be nice, I know it sounds weird but trust me these soups are great!)

-2 cups carrots cubed

-1 medium onion chopped

-1 cup scallions chopped

-2 medium potatoes cubed or 1 can of Beans (your choice they usualy use navy or butter beans) (use ONLY potatoes OR beans but not both)

-1 tablespoon of sea salt

-4 tablespoons olive oil

Bring a large pot of Water and salt to boil. Add all ingredients and boil until soft, add water as necessary. When all the vegetables are soft, add the olive oil and blend with a magic wand (hand blender) until smooth. This is the base.

Soup Variations

If you used beans:

-1 cup chopped artichokes or 1 cup chopped cabbage or any other vegetable you like to eat with beans. Add to the pot, and boil until soft. If you want chunks the soup is ready, if you want it creamy, blend again.

If you used potatoes:

- add whatever vegetables you want, green beans, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, peas add as much or as little as you like, all chopped into smaller pieces. You can even add more potato or carrot if you want chunks.

-If you want a creamy soup, add these vegetables and boil until soft (always adding more water as needed) and then blend again when all the vegetables are soft. The more water you use the thinner it will be, the less, the thicker it will be.

-If you want chunks in your soup, add the vegetables cut to your desired size and then boil until soft.

-Small chunks of white meat chicken can also be added for extra Protein.< /span>

Options: you can always add herbs for different taste like thyme and parsley. I sometimes use Mrs.Dash for extra flavors and fresh ground pepper; it’s a taste choice so have fun with it. Also you can use bags of frozen mixed vegetables that are already chopped up to save time and to get a better variety.

Note: These soups freeze well, I often freeze individual portions and then thaw and microwave on the day I eat them. If you make a big pot it will usually stay in the fridge for about a week, frozen about a month. I know it sounds like a lot of work but 1 pot usually makes a weeks worth of servings so if you make it on the weekend it will last all week. Most Portuguese people eat these soups for dinner because they generally have a big lunch. I also like to eat a bowl of soup with some wheat crackers and sliced lunch meat like turkey or chicken. It makes a very filling and healthy meal.

Let me know if you have any questions, or how your soups turn out!

[pugmum 0]

Thank you, these Soups sound cozy and wonderful!!! :hungry:

Kelli

[K@t 38]

Let me know how they turn out, or if you need any help, they can be a bit tricky, but once u get the hang of it, they are very filling and yummy, and get u all those Vitamins that we need.

[NJChick 3]

OMG I love pumpkin and squashes, I'm gonna make this. Thank you !!!!

There's a recipie I posted for pumpkin chili here and if you adore pumpkin like I do, you'll love the recipe.

Thank you Kat !!!

SLURP!

[K@t 38]

let me know how it turns out! :hungry:

[luvracing 0]

What is french onion. I'm thinking of french onion Soup, is that what you mean.

[K@t 38]

opppps..... Sorry I made a mistake. I was translating from portuguese to english. (its cebola de frances in portugese) It's not french onion but rather Scallions that go in the Soup. The white part at the end should be used. I'll edit the recipe. Thanks for the question, or I never would have caught that! :doh:

[NJChick 3]

I was going to make it this weekend and forgot to get carrots.... DARN !!

I will make this, it sounds so good.

[TommyO 5]

Thanks, I have copied your recipe, I love pumpkin and squash and turnip. This will be great. I like to leave a pot of Soup on the stove over the weekend that way if you get hungry you can grab a quick cup of soup.

[Sorority ChiK 0]

what about butternut squash?

[Sorority ChiK 0]

Thanks, I have copied your recipe, I love pumpkin and squash and turnip. This will be great. I like to leave a pot of Soup on the stove over the weekend that way if you get hungry you can grab a quick cup of Soup.< /div>

great idea!

[Jessiebear 2]

OOOOOOHHHHHHH! How did I miss this? Thanks! Sounds wonderful! I think I need to head to the supermarket.

[NJChick 3]

TommyO meeee too !! I love squash, pumpkin and everything in that category. Here's a recipe for Pumpkin Chili... its wonderful. Really you can make it any way you like but put in that can of pumpkin pie or plain pumpkin (I like the pumpkin pie in a can) and mmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm !!!!!

Did you ever have Acorn Squash... OMG that stuff is awesome!! Buttnutsquash is also a favorite.. what a world, what a world :couch2:

Pumpkin Mexican Chili

This recipe was give to me by one of my best friends who has lost 85+ lbs by following a Mediterranean diet. She is not banded. She is truly amazing and has learned to cook so healthy and wonderful.

You can adjust this recipe any way you like and it still turns out wonderful.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped red bell peppers

1 clove garlic

1 pound ground chicken breast or turkey

2 (14.5 ounce) cans canned peeled and diced tomatoes

1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY'S® Pumpkin Pie

1 (15 ounce) can canned Tomato sauce

1 (15.25 ounce) can canned kidney Beans, drained

1 (4 ounce) can ORTEGA® Diced Green Chiles

1/2 cup whole kernel corn

1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

HEAT vegetable oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add chicken or turkey; cook until browned. Drain.

ADD tomatoes with juice, pumpkin, tomato sauce, Beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

MY SUGGESTION, EAT THE NEXT DAY......... YUMMY !!!!

You can put in what ever you want, any veggies, beans etc.

I also put in to bulk it up, zucchini, squash, green beans, peas, carrots (canned).

[Jessiebear 2]

mmmmmmm......... This is so good! I fudged it a little though. I didn't feel like going into town today. I only had 4 small potatoes, so I added a large turnip. I also only had canned pumpkin, so that's what I used. I added beef boullion, salt, pepper & garlic powder. It is truely wonderful! Thank you so much! It is very hearty & filling. Thanks again!

[Jessiebear 2]

Bumping..........

This Soup is really good & would be an awesome mushy!