Carrot

Alphabet Soup

by:
January 28, 2013
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

So much better than the canned stuff.... I usually make this toward the end of the summer, when I can use the freshest of vegetables from the garden and the farmer's market, and freeze it in serving-size containers. But it is still good using winter-market or frozen vegetables. It's a forgiving recipe: vegetable types and amounts can be varied, depending on availability and taste. If you want a less chunky, more liquidy soup, you can add more broth (homemade broth is better). The chopping may seem like a lot of work -- but think the Zen art of food prep, and think of the ultimate reward. On the other hand, if you must, you may use a food processor very carefully (which I did this past summer when recuperating from eye surgery). Even vegetable-phobes (I won't reveal any names -- especially of a certain spousal type who claims to hate just about every vegetable in the soup, with the possible exception of carrots and corn -- will eat this happily. —louisez

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, diced
  • 3 medium parsnips, diced
  • 2 small-medium zucchini, diced
  • 2 small-medium (yellow) summer squash, diced
  • 2 cups diced green beans, or combination green and wax beans
  • 2 cups peas
  • 2 cups corn, cut from the cob
  • 2 cups chopped spinach
  • 2 quarts broth (vegetable or chicken)
  • 2 cups chopped tomatoes (or 14.5-oz.can, with juice)
  • 1/4 cup alphabet noodles, cooked slightly less than package directions, and drained well
  • 3 sprigs thyme, tied together with kitchen string for easy removal
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Directions
  1. Heat oil in soup pot over medium-low heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, carrots, and parsnips, and saute till vegetables begin to soften (this may take 20-30 minutes). Add tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, vinegar, broth, and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, till vegetables are tender (this should take 30-45 minutes).
  2. Add zucchini, summer squash, green beans, peas, and corn. Cook, uncovered, till these vegetables are tender (about 10-15 minutes).
  3. Add spinach and cook a few minutes, until spinach is wilted. Remove bay leaves and thyme twigs.
  4. Add noodles. Cook a minute or two, to heat through.
  5. Soup will improve in flavor if refrigerated overnight, if you can wait that long.
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