Christmas Soups

Soups

These soups are simple and delicious and very easy to prepare and more important a starter with low calories that you can cook the day or week before and reheat just before serving

Christmas Carrot Soup  Serves 6 – 190 kcal - Time 70minutes

Christmas Carrot Soup topped with mushrooms

You need: 400g carrots (chopped in little pieces) - 100g onion (chopped) -150g leeks (sliced) – 300g chestnuts –  ½ tsp. nutmeg – 2 cloves – 200g mushrooms (sliced) – 1tbsp sesame seeds – Some coriander for garnish. Hot vegetable stock

1. In a wide medium deep pan, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil and add the onion, sliced leek and roughly chopped chestnuts. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes in a low medium heat.
2. Add the carrots, nutmeg and cloves. Cover with 700ml hot vegetable stock. Simmer with the lid on until the carrots are tender
3. In another pan heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in medium high. Add the sliced mushrooms, cook them for about 5 minutes, and stir often. Season well. Remove from the heat and add the sesame seeds.
4. When the carrots are tender, blend the mixture until smooth with in a blender or using a hand-held blender. Add more stock if the mix is too thick.
5. Serve in individual plates and top each one with the mushrooms and some coriander. Sprinkle over some olive oil.

Broccoli Festive Cream Soup Serves 6 - 247kcal - Time  50 min

For a lighter version use just bread toast stick instead of puff pastry

You need: 600g broccoli florets – 60g raisins – 250ml milk – 3 tbsp. flour – Puff pastry – Vinegar

1. In a pan with salty boiling water cook the broccoli until tender (about 5 min. from package- 12 min. if is fresh broccoli).
2. Meanwhile take the packet of puff pastry and cut in strips 2 cm wide and around 10cm long. Put in the oven at 210ºC for 15minutes, until the pastry is golden.
3. When the broccolis are ready, drain and then blend in a blender or using a hand-held blender until smooth.
4. Now heat 2tbsp of olive oil in a pan, stir in the broccoli puree and raisins. Sprinkle over the flour and stir very well.
5. Now mix the milk slowly and stirring constantly, until you gets thickness slightly thick as a traditional cream soup. Season and add few drop of vinegar.
6. Serve in individual bowl with some puff pastry beside for deep in the broccoli cream.

Leek and White Bean Soup Serves 2 - 300kcal – Time 40 min

Add a extra festive touch with truffle oil and crème fraiche 

You need: 1 leek (thinly sliced) – 200g floury potatoes (diced) -  400g of canned cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) - 600ml hot vegetable stock – 1 garlic clove (chopped) 2 tbsp. chopped parsley – 2 tsp. Truffle flavour infused oil.

1. Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a pan using a medium low heat. Add the leek and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes.
2. Add the potatoes, beans and cover with the stock. Bring to boil and then simmer in a low heat for about 20 minutes. Check that the potatoes are tender.
3. Using a ladle spoon remove some vegetables and set aside.
4. Purée the remaining vegetables in a blender or using a hand-held blender until smooth.
5. Now mix the reserved vegetables with the blended ones (re-heat if is needed) and add the parsley.
6. Serve in individual bowls and drizzle over some truffle oil.

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Christmas Soups