Well now, let me tell ya about this here kitchen sink soup. It’s a soup that’s got just about everything in it—ain’t no fancy name for it, but it sure fills up your belly and keeps you warm on them cold nights. Y’know, sometimes when you’re hungry but don’t know what to cook, you just grab whatever’s left in the cupboard and throw it all together. That’s what this soup is all about, throwin’ in whatever you got and makin’ something tasty out of it.
First off, you’re gonna need some good broth, like vegetable or chicken. I like me a big ol’ pot of vegetable bouillon broth, about 8 cups of it. You can get that from the store or make your own if you’re feelin’ fancy. Once you got that, throw in a couple of onions, don’t matter if it’s yellow or red, just chop ‘em up real nice and toss ‘em in. Then you get yourself a shallot, them little onions that pack a punch, and chop it up too. Don’t forget the garlic, ‘cause garlic makes everything better—3 cloves oughta do it.
Now, here’s where it gets good. Lentils are a must in this soup. You get yourself about 2 cups of lentils and rinse ‘em good before throwin’ ‘em in the pot. Lentils cook up real soft and make the soup hearty. You can add more if you like it thicker, ‘cause the more lentils, the thicker the soup gets.
Then you get yourself a cauliflower. A whole head of it, don’t be shy. Break it down into florets and put it in. Cauliflower cooks up nice and soft, and it gives the soup a bit of body. If you got any other veggies hangin’ around, don’t be afraid to toss ‘em in—carrots, potatoes, whatever. If you got beans in the cupboard, they work just fine too.
You can’t forget the seasonin’. I like a good pinch of red chili flakes, give it a little kick, but not too much—just enough to make your mouth tingle. A bit of black pepper, salt to taste, and you’re good to go. Stir it all together and let it simmer for a good while, about an hour or so, until everything’s tender and flavorful.
Now, you can serve this soup however you like. If you want it smooth, just grab a blender and puree it all up. If you’re like me and you like a little texture, just leave it chunky and eat it as-is. If you’re feeling fancy, throw some croutons on top, or even a sprinkle of cheese if that’s your thing. Either way, this kitchen sink soup is good for any time of day, but I especially like it for supper when the weather’s cold.
When you sit down to eat it, it’s like the soup just keeps on giving. The veggies settle at the bottom, and the broth thins out a bit, but that’s all part of the charm. It don’t matter how it looks, long as it tastes good. And trust me, it tastes good.
So, if you ever find yourself with a bunch of odds and ends in your pantry and fridge, just throw ‘em together and make yourself a pot of kitchen sink soup. It’s simple, it’s filling, and it’s real good for the soul.
Tags: [Kitchen Sink Soup, Vegetable Soup, Hearty Soup, Comfort Food, Lentil Soup, Cauliflower Soup, Vegan Soup, Cold Weather Soup]
