SOUP NIGHT

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

The office has been freezing - with layers upon layers, I still can't feel my feet - so tonight I'm thinking it's a soup kinda' night. I found a great website, Oh She Glows, I fell in love with a soup recipe and tried it out on my in-laws, with a few Shooz changes. It was a HIT!

You know the feeling when you've come home, the heater is on (if you have a real fireplace at home, totally JEAL!), the UGGs are on, and it doesn't matter that it's cold outside - yep that's it, that's the feeling you get when you eat the soup! 

Plus the quinoa adds great flavour and also super-healthy! 

WINTER WARMING SOUP.

Ingredients: 

• 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup red quinoa, uncooked (if red is unavailable, use regular quinoa)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock, boiled
• 4 cups water, boiled
• One can diced tomatoes
• One can black beans, rinsed & drained (if you can't get black beans, fava beans, kidney beans, or butter beans will work too)
• 1 tsp curry powder
• Pinch or two of cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• 2 cups baby spinach leaves, well rinsed and roughly chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt flakes, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the chopped sweet onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the chopped carrots, chopped zucchini, and minced garlic, and continue to sauté for about 5-7 minutes.
2. Boil the stock and water in another pot (if you don't have time to pre-boil, just add it at room temperature and cook the soup for an extra 10mins).  
3. Add stock mixture, tomatoes, red quinoa, black beans, and spices & seasonings. 
4. Bring to a boil and then simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Add the roughly chopped spinach, stir well, and cover. Simmer on low for about 15-35 minutes. 
6. The longer you cook it the more the flavours will develop. Taste test and adjust seasonings if necessary. 

*I also have a feeling this soup will be even better the next day!

Stay warm. Love Shooz xx