Best Country Style Soup Recipes

COUNTRY STYLE SMOKED SAUSAGE, HAM AND SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• WHICH GAMMON or HAM?.
• I used a cooked boneless ham joint throughout this recipe. If you use an uncooked ham, you will need to cook it (see instructions below) which will leave you with homemade stock for the soup.
• Sometimes ham or gammon can be very salty, especially gammon from supermarkets. To remove most of the salt, soak the gammon in water for two hours before cooking and pour away the water. Then simmer it for 15 minutes, pour away the water and add new water for the remaining cooking time.
• If the ham or gammon joint you buy is too large, put what is left in the fridge and use it for sandwiches,or as a main meal another time.
• As a very easy alternative, use pre-cooked ham which saves all the bother of cooking your own ham / gammon joint. If you decide to use pre-cooked ham, just ignore the first step of the recipe, OR you might have cooked my Celebration Spiced Ham with Orange and Marmalade glaze already - so the stock base and ham will be done!
• Whatever ham or gammon is used, it's fine if it is smoked or un-smoked - I used un-smoked.
• Cooking the Ham or Gammon:.
• Pour 3 pints of water into a largish pan and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down until the water is simmering (barely boiling). Place the uncooked gammon in the pan. If the gammon is covered half way to all the way by the water you're OK. Chop the gammon into smaller pieces if it's not at least half covered. The cooking method is the same whatever ham or gammon joint you use. Cook for around 50 minutes.
• Turn the ham over about half way through cooking.
• Immediately after the ham is put on to cook, start on the vegetables.
• Cooking the Soup:.
• Chop up the onions and carrots into small cubes, and place all the vegetables, split peas and chopped parsley into a pan, pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Then lower the heat so that the mixture is just simmering (just below boiling).
• This will need to be cooked for around one hour, maybe one and a quarter hours if you want your vegetables soft.
• The ham or gammon should be cooked after about 50 minutes, just enough time to prepare it before the vegetables are cooked.
• Remove the ham from the pan, and chop it into small cubes. Chop up the smoked sausage to the same size.
• The final step is to add the ham and smoked sausage to the soup and heat gently for about 5 to 10 minutes. Stir well and have a quick taste. More salt and pepper can added if the soup needs more seasoning.
• Serve the soup into bowls and add some extra chopped parsley if you have any available. Serve with crusty bread rolls or French bread/baguette.
• This soup freezes well and will keep in the freezer for a month.

COUNTRY STYLE POTATO LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Cut off roots, and tough dark green portion of leeks, leaving white portion and about 3 inches of light green. Slice in half lengthwise and chop into 1-inch sections. (You should have about 11 cups).
• Heat butter in Dutch oven medium-low heat until foaming; stir in leeks, increase to medium heat, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender but not mushy, 15-20 minutes, do not brown. Sprinkle flour over leeks and stir to evenly coat; cook until flour dissolves, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to high.
• Whisking constantly, gradually add stock. Add bay leaf and potatoes; cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, until potatoes are almost tender 5-7 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and let stand until potatoes are tender and flavors meld, 10-15 minutes. Discard bay leaf, season with salt and pepper; serve immediately.

COUNTRY-STYLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place fava beans in medium saucepan. Place Great Northern beans in large bowl. Add enough cold water to each to cover by 3 inches and let soak overnight.
• Bring fava beans to boil in their soaking liquid. Boil 5 minutes. Drain fava beans and cool slightly. Using small sharp knife, make small slit in skin of each bean. Peel off outer skins and discard. Drain Great Northern beans.
• Bring 6 cups water to boil in large pot. Add all beans, onion, carrot and celery. Partially cover; simmer over medium heat until beans are half cooked, about 30 minutes. Add cabbage and lettuce. Partially cover; cook until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Drizzle with oil.

COUNTRY STYLE FRENCH ONION SOUP

Steps:

• heat oven to 400 *F.
• in a 3qt saucepan melt 2 tablespoons butter, add onion and 1/2 teaspoon garlic. cook over medium heat, stirring often, until onions are tender.
• add remaining soup ingredients, continue cooking until heated through.
• meanwhile in 13x9 baking pan, melt 1/4 cup butter in oven. stir in basil and 1/2 teaspoon garlic.
• add bread cubes, toss to coat. bake 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often until toasted.
• pour soup in oven proof bowls, place 1 cheese slice in each bowl. bake 7 to 10 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.
• serve with rye croutons.

COUNTRY STYLE ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Peel and cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes.
• Cut celery into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Core, blanch, peel and cut tomatoes into 1/2 inch chunks.
• Cut marrow into 1/4 inch slices.
• In a large saucepan, heat oil and brown garlic. Discard garlic. Add potatoes, stir to coat and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add onion, celery, parsley, and oregano, and cook until onions are softened.
• Add stock, tomatoes, marrow, and salt and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until zucchini is tender.
• Pour soup into individual bowls and sprinkle freshly ground pepper and 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese over each serving.
• Serve hot. Makes 6 servings.