Lentil, Potato, and Chorizo Soup--Vegitarian Style!

Recipe: http://www.cookthink.com/recipe/4012/Lentil_Soup_With_Chorizo_And_Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium carrot, diced
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 package Smart Bacon from Lifelight
6 cups water
2 Vegetarian chorizo (can't remember what the brand was called, and it is hard to find)
2 small russet potato, peeled and cubed
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and picked through
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

1. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the carrot, onion, garlic, thyme and pancetta. Season them with a light sprinkling of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, 5-7 minutes.

2. Add the water, chorizo and potato. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce immediately to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potato cubes are barely tender, 15-20 minutes. Add the lentils and cook until they're tender, 5-10 more minutes.

3. Stir in the lemon juice and add more salt and pepper to taste.


Verdict:

The soy-rizo ends up crumbling alot when you put it in, but it adds a nice thickness to the soup and you don't lose any flavor. I added a little yogurt and dipped buttered bread in the soup and found it very delicious. I'd definitely make it again, but save it for a colder day :) Texas in July isn't condusive to hot soups, but I had been cold all day. The house I was working in is kept at 68 degrees and it was only in the mid-eighties outside and I was freezing by the time I got back to my real work and then home and just wanted hot, heavy soup. This fit the bill.

Also, this soup has very little prep time. Once you get the first step in the pot, you have time to prep for the next steps as the other things are cooking, which made it an easy meal. I'd like it a little spicier next time, but it's so hard to even find the soy-rizo that I think I'll have to add the spice with old fashioned pepper.

Seven's Vegetarian Pot Pie

Well, we've been on hiatus for a while (blogging, not cooking) due to vacations and moving house. But now we're back! In theory someday we'll go back and post the recipes we've tried over the last few weeks. However, for today...

Ingredients:

Crust.
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
pinch salt

Filling.
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 Quorn cutlets, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium potato, cubed
2 carrots, sliced in rounds
1/3 large onion, diced
1 cup vegetarian broth
handful frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen broccoli and cauliflower
1 can condensed broccoli cheese soup
salt and black pepper to taste

Method:

1. Combine all crust ingredients in bowl. Mix with fork until blended thorougly. Roll in to ball and then roll out until approximately 9x9 inches square.
2. Heat oil in frying pan. Add Quorn, garlic, potato, carrots, and onion to pan. Fry until vegetables begin to soften. Before they begin to brown, add broth to pan. Cook for 10 minutes.
3. In large bowl, combine peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and condensed soup. Add Quorn mixture to bowl and mix thoroughly. Add salt and pepper, as desired.
4. Grease a 9x9 glass baking dish. Add filling. Cover with crust, making sure to poke holes in the center.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

NOTES:
The crust is a fairly basic biscuit dough that I snurched from the internet. The rest of the dish was cobbled together based on what I had in my cupboard and a couple of different chicken pot pie recipes.

VERDICT:
Despite the fact that (in my impatience to get this cooked) I ended up with a few slightly crunchy bits of potato, I was really impressed with how this dish came out. It's comfort food that's still chock full of vegetables. I'll definitely make this again.