Ingredients

  • 1 -2 tablespoon oil or 1 -2 tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion, chopped (or leek, shallots, green onions)
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional)
  • 300 g boneless meat chicken
  • 3 cups finely chopped firm vegetables (potato, sweet potato, carrot, celery, turnip, parsnip, zucchini squash, sweet corn)
  • 6 cups stock (beef, chicken, vegetable or fish; liquid or cubes)
  • 1 cup penne pasta
  • 1 cup chopped green vegetables (eg broccoli, spinach, green beans, peas, canned vegetables)
  • salt and pepper
  • herbs (eg, fresh or dried basil flat-leaf parsley, oregano)
  • 1 cup red sweet pepper
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried herbs (or fresh to taste)
  • optional ingredients
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • soy sauce
  • chili sauce
  • tomato paste, juice,puree
  • creamed corn

Method

  • Heat oil or butter in large pan, then add onion and garlic.
  • Add the chicken or boneless meat, thinly sliced or finely chopped, and cook, stirring, until browned.
  • Add firm vegetables as they take the longest to cook.
  • Cook, stirring, until vegetables are just soft.
  • Add enough stock to cover the vegetable mixture in pan.
  • Bring the stock to the boil.
  • For a tomato-based soup, add a can of undrained crushed tomatoes.
  • For a hearty soup, at this stage add pasta, if desired.
  • Simmer, uncovered, until grains and vegetables are just tender.
  • Pasta takes about 10 minutes to cook.
  • When grains and vegetables are almost tender, add quick-cooking green vegetables, such as chopped broccoli, spinach, beans, peas, onions, or canned vegetables.
  • If you prefer a thicker, smooth soup, blend or process mixture to the desired consistency.
  • For a thicker soup with chunks of vegetables, blend only half of the soup until smooth.
  • Return the soup to pan, adjust the consistency with a little water or extra stock, if necessary, and stir until hot.
  • If using canned beans or lentils, drain, rinse, then add them.
  • Stir until hot.
  • Season soup with salt, pepper and chopped fresh herbs (or a teaspoon of dried) to taste.
  • If soup needs a little more flavour, ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, chilli sauce, tomato paste, tomato puree or a can of creamed corn are great boosters.
  • Suitable to freeze.
  • Suitable to microwave.