Recipe Background
Meatless Monday Soup uses pantry staples for a cozy first-night meal.
The inspiration for my Meatless Monday Soup came one chilly afternoon when my family moved to a new neighborhood. I was bundled up in my cozy sweater, unpacking boxes, and attempting to convince my young son that a new room was not the end of the world. The pantry was sparse, but among the chaos, I found a can of diced tomatoes and some Creole seasoning I'd tucked away, a nod to our previous home in the South. It felt like the perfect challenge to turn these into a hearty, comforting dish.
A quick trip to the local market provided fresh green beans and corn that nearly begged to be thrown into a pot. I diced up carrots and a large potato, feeling like a culinary magician as I combined them with the tomatoes and vegetable broth. The gentle hum of simmering soup kept us company, and I couldn’t resist adding a bit of perk with the tomato-vegetable juice cocktail—pro tip: it adds both depth and vibrancy. Letting it all meld together, I realized sometimes the best flavors come from what’s on hand.
When the soup finally came together, its warmth filled the air like a cozy hug. My son sniffed the air and wandered into the kitchen, curious. We slurped our bowls down sitting on the floor, celebrating our little milestone in a new place. Pro tip: always taste your seasoning at the end. Every bowl was a delicious reminder that home can be wherever you make it.
Ingredients
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can vegetable broth
- 1 (11.5-ounce) can tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 large potato diced
- 1 cup fresh green beans chopped
- 1 cup fresh corn kernels
- 1 cup water
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- Creole seasoning to taste
Directions
- In a large stockpot, combine the tomatoes, the vegetable broth, the tomato juice, the carrots, the celery, the potatoes, the green beans, the corn, and the water.
- Season the mixture with the salt, the pepper, and the Creole seasoning.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Serve.
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