Split Pea Soup with Marinated Red Onions
Jul 14, 2005
This updated standby has a bit of a kick, which can turn into a punch by adding 2 tbsp (25 mL) more chilies. If you can't find canned chilies, use half a sweet green pepper plus 1/2 tsp (2 mL) hot pepper sauce.
Some weeks you need a big-batch soup to use up a ton of in-season veggies. This tangy-sweet soup fills the bill – it's great hot or cold, and freezes beautifully. This borscht is vegan on its own, but it's even tastier topped with a dollop of sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt) and a sprinkle of chopped fresh dill.
This recipe makes enough for five servings of sauce. We recommend cooking 3 oz (90 g) of spaghetti for each serving. While she's at it, Melissa can boil and freeze (separately) enough pasta for the Spaghetti Frittata and the leftover sauce. If you eat dairy foods, unlike Melissa, you can sprinkle the pasta and sauce with Parmesan cheese.
Cremini mushrooms give this soup a deep rich colour and flavour. All that's missing is some freshly baked bread and you have a cosy family meal for a cold winter night. The vegetarian variation is also delicious.
Hearty simmered beef, vegetables and noodles always make for a warm welcome home on a cool night. Cooking the noodles in the soup thickens the broth and gives the dish that "stick to your ribs" feeling. They do soak up some of the broth, though, so you may want to add a bit of water to any leftovers before reheating to make them soupy again.
Cost: $2.30/serving
Cool noodles contrast with hot, succulent grilled pork loin (or use boneless chicken). You can prepare the noodles and sauce a few hours before assembly.
Aromatic spices highlight cubes of your favourite squash in this spicy curry. The dry, crumbly Indian cheese, paneer, is available in many health food stores and cheese shops. Unlike most cheeses, it doesn't melt at high temperatures. Serve with basmati rice.
A favourite dish made in the fall when peppers are at their peak. 2 1/2 cups of fresh, peeled, diced tomatoes can be substituted for the canned in tomato season.
