Post-holiday roasted vegetable soup’s on
We made it, folks. The holidays are behind us. It’s time to put the decorations away, declutter the house, deep clean the kitchen. Throw away the stale cookies and that halffrozen green bean casserole from Thanksgiving shoved in the back of the fridge.
It’s also time to give our bodies a break from all the rich food and beverages we’ve been forcing them to process for weeks. OK, months.
Soup is a wonderful love note to our January bellies. The liquid fills us up with warm, tasty goodness, and lean vegetables are exactly what the doctors have ordered. Over and over and over again.
But this break in the dietary action need not feel like a sacrifice. This soup packs flavor and texture that will feel like decadence. Happy New Year to you and your belly. And may both of you stay toasty warm.
ROASTED VEGETABLE SOUP
Makes 4 quarts
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped leeks, white part only (about 3 medium)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped (about 2 medium)
2 cups diced potatoes
2 cups green beans in ¾-inch pieces
2 quarts roasted vegetable stock
1 quart water
4 cups chopped tomatoes with juice
2 cups corn kernels
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup dried parsley
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the leeks, garlic and a pinch of salt and saute until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 8 minutes.
Add the carrots, potatoes and green beans and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the stock and water, increase the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the tomatoes, corn kernels and pepper.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are fork-tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the parsley and remaining salt. Serve hot
— Adapted from Alton Brown, Food Network
Nutrition information per cup: 91 calories, 4.3 g fat, 2.5 g fiber, 1.9 g protein, 12.7 g carbohydrate, 173 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol.
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