Monday, June 4, 2012

Meatless Monday - Cheddar Veggie Soup




I love soup in this weather, and I love a thick soup that eats like a meal. With grilled cheese, of course! While I'm partial to a tinned tomato soup from time to time, I cannot do canned soup, packet soup, cupasoup, anything of that nature. Not when they taste like cardboard and it's so easy to make your own and freeze for days when you need a little warmth in a bowl.

This, as seems to be the current theme here these days, uses odds and ends of veg. All bound together with a bechamel base to ensure proper creamy, cheesy goodness! 

Ingredients
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped,
2 carrots, roughly chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
1 small sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
Whatever else you find in your fridge - I used half a packet of frozen mixed veg that had gone a bit frosty, some leftover mashed potato and some leftover garlic broccoli
1 litre stock
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1.5 cups milk
1 cup grated cheddar
salt and pepper, to taste.

Directions:

1. Saute the onion and garlic in a little olive oil. Throw in the carrot and cook for a while. Celery is good to add here too.

2. Add potatoes, sweet potatoes, the random assortment of veg, the thyme and the stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer.

3. While that is cooking, heat the butter and flour over medium heat. Stir the resulting mix for at least 1 minute to eliminate the floury taste. Add the milk and whisk really quickly for it all to incorporate.

4. Turn the heat to high and continue whisking until thickened. I know bechamel sauces usually say cook over a low heat to avoid lumps etc, but I've never had the patience to and I've never had a problem. If the roux mixes in from the word go and you whisk a lot, you'll be fine.

5. Add the cheese to the bechamel.

6. When veggies are soft, blend with a stick blender until smooth. Add the bechamel and test for seasoning.


As for the sandwiches, I made cheese sandwiches with the butter on the outside. I popped them in the oven with both the top and bottom elements going. If you only have one, then use the griller/broiler option!





Linky bitz...

 The linky will be up at 9am every Monday morning, and will stay up until the following Sunday. It doesn't matter if you eat your meal on a day other than Monday - it's just an easy day to create the link


 Grab the Meatless Monday button above and put it in your post, and even on your sidebar if you're feeling generous.


 Visit at least one other blogger and leave some love. This is so much more cool if we're in it togetherWhere it says "Name", you might like to add the name of your dish instead or as well.



16 comments:

  1. Christie @ Fig & CherryJune 4, 2012 9:52 AM

    Just when I think you have peaked for great ideas you come up with bechamel as a soup! In debt to you forever... And very jealous I didn't think of this :)

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  2. Hi Stacey just linking up for the first time! That soup looks delish, I think my kids would love it :-)

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  3. The Hungry MumJune 4, 2012 12:11 PM

    you had me at cheese... will be trying this recipe v soon!

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  4. Ohhhhhh! Going on the grocery list! I lovvvvvve cheese!

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  5. This looks amazing! I'm going to give this a go :)

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  6. Sunshine n' GigglesJune 4, 2012 2:11 PM

    Yummo! Def making this one!

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  7. Ahhhhh this is where to leave comments! Love your meatless Monday's and have just sent you an email Stacey. Hope yo hear back from you when you get a free moment.

    @FergDelight

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  8. OMG. Grilled cheese with just about anything, but a soup that eats as a meal? THE BEST. 

    ps. I made it! Yeeees. Total link up success. *happy dance*

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  9. Hah I'm surprised I haven't peaked yet! I thought I'd run out of things way earlier than this xx

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  10. It's always a winner if the kids will love it! Thanks for linking up xx

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  11. I'd eat just about anything as long as it contained cheese!

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  12. Let me know how it goes for you!

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  13. Haha sorry you had such difficulties! I have just returned your email - exciting stuff! xx

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  14. The best success evvvvvverrrrr! Gotta have that grilled cheese. CHEESE.

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