Thursday, January 6, 2011

Winter greens soup with mushrooms

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Some days call for a bowl of steaming soup. We've had more than our share of those days lately in Los Angeles - rainy, gray days when you can't quite warm up, even when you're swaddled in a cozy blanket on the couch drinking mug after mug of hot tea.

My mom is visiting from New York. I assumed she'd find any January day in Los Angeles downright balmy. But she's had a chill she can't shake. So I gave her a few sweaters and made her soup.

This soup is about as simple as it gets: a little bacon, an onion, some garlic, winter greens and sliced mushrooms simmered in chicken stock. With a few thick slices of whole-grain bread and some good butter, it's the perfect lunch for a rainy day.

Winter greens soup with mushrooms
(makes 4 servings)
  • 2 slices bacon, diced
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups sliced crimini or button mushrooms
  • 4 cups mixed winter greens, chopped or torn into small pieces (e.g. kale, chard, mustard greens)
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • grated parmesan or romano cheese, for serving
In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon pieces are starting to brown. Add the onion and saute another 2 or 3 minutes, then add the garlic and the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms start to give off their liquid. Add the greens and chicken stock, bring the pot to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer about 20 minutes, until the greens are soft. If you use prepared chicken stock, you probably won't have to add salt - but check before serving, just to be sure.

Serve the soup hot, passing the grated cheese at the table.

9 comments:

Toni Tralala said...

This looks so delicious! :)

I made some taramrindo soup the other day because it was so cold!

Mushrooms Canada said...

This would be the perfect soup to warm up with on a cold winter day here in Canada!
- Brittany

Marjie said...

Healthy and keeps you warm. Yum!!!

Lana @ Never Enough Thyme said...

Oh, my! I love the flavors in this soup. You know we Southerners love our greens :-) Definitely going on the to-make list!

Katie said...

Oh man, this sounds perfect for the chilly, rainy days we have coming up in New Orleans. And perfectly healthy for post-holidays detox!

Monet said...

I'm so sorry your mom has been chilled! My mom is coming to TX tomorrow, but unfortunately she is bringing the Colorado cold. We are due to receive an arctic cold front (she was so looking forward to warm, sun-shine filled days!) I may have to make her a bowl of this delicious soup too! I hope you have a relaxing Sunday. I don't know about you, but I need a day to rejuvenate!

RICHSISTAH said...

I never thought about making a soup with greens. Before seeing the picture, I thought that it was a creamed soup. Definitely different!!!!

Nancy said...

Torture.. pure torture... I am sitting here with my SALAD (a good salad mind you) and then I see this.

I really need to get a duck.. so I can make this!!

Erika Kerekes said...

@Nancy - something makes me think you're talking about the potato galette, not this healthy soup! :)

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