Here’s another meal template that’s an easy way to get more vegetables in your life — and quick and simple to throw together, and a great way to use up leftovers.
Hopefully, you’ve bought your groceries, and read Part 1 – The hash method. The soup method is somewhat similar.
This time, you’ll need a saucepan. A 1-quart pan works nicely for one person. Scale up as needed.
Like the hash method, the soup method has a list…
Things I always have prepped and ready in the fridge, that are essential to this dish:
- Diced white or yellow onion (and/or whole green onion)
- Already cooked meat of various kinds
- Vegetables: a changing cast of characters – bell pepper, green beans, carrots, celery, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach… They can be raw, or cooked leftovers.
- Zucchini, if you want to make zoodles
- Good quality chicken broth
- Possible add-ins: spaghetti sauce or marinara, salsa, eggs, lemon juice, herbs
If you haven’t already read about the hash method, please do read the section under the headings “About measurements, part 1” and “… part 2.”
Sorry: I don’t have how-to pictures for this yet, but it’s not tricky — you’ll get it!
Okay, ready to cook?
Step 1:
Heat your saucepan to medium (or medium-low, if your stove runs hot), add just enough fat (olive oil, coconut oil, or bacon drippings) to evenly cover the bottom. Add some onions, about a small handful. Leave that on the heat, stirring every so often, just enough to keep them from getting brown in some places but undercooked in others.
Step 2:
Meanwhile, dice or slice any veggies you’re going to use. A small handful after they’re diced is a good ballpark measurement to use. Add them after the onions have been in the pan for just a few minutes. EXCEPT: For spinach and zucchini noodles, don’t add them in until the very end.
Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are done to your liking. If you think they’re drying out too much before they’re done, add about an 1/4″ of broth to the pan.
Step 2B – If you’re making zoodles:
How to make zucchini noodles (ignore the cooking part):
Place them in a paper-towel-lined bowl, to help absorb excess moisture.
Step 3:
Add the meat. A good guideline is for your meat to approximately equal the size and thickness of the palm of your hand. Then add enough broth to cover all the meat and veggies; it should come about halfway up the pan, in a 1-quart saucepan. Bring it up to a boil, then turn down to a simmer.
Step 4:
Now you can add anything else you want in it. Stir in a big spoonful of spaghetti sauce or salsa. Add a few pinches of your favorite herbs. If you want a mostly-clear soup, you can thicken and enrich it by first whisking a splash of lemon juice into one egg yolk, then slowly whisking this mixture into the soup.
Step 5:
Add the spinach and/or zucchini noodles (if using), and simmer for three or four minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Does it taste bland? Add salt and/or black pepper a little at a time, taste, and add more as needed till it tastes good. Sometimes a little splash of lemon juice helps the flavor, too.
And your soup is done!
Here are some soup combos I’ve enjoyed…
Simple chicken soup, with diced carrots and green onion.
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Sausage or hamburger, green beans, carrots, and marinara make for a minestrone-inspired soup. A little shaved Parmesan on top!
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Here’s a great example of using up leftovers! Leftover french onion soup from one day’s restaurant lunch + half a large burger patty from the next day’s restaurant lunch + a little diced squash + chopped spinach = one quick, easy, hearty soup.
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One day, I was lucky enough to have a little leftover steak; threw it in at the last moment so as not to overcook it. There’s also bell pepper and diced zucchini in there. The green blob is from a Wholly Guacamole mini — another thing I keep on hand for easy lunches.
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Some cooked, crumbled sausage, chicken bone broth, and assorted veggies; I don’t know what you call this soup, but it’s delicious!
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