Category: Soup

Mushroom Cauli Soup

So it’s been nearly 3 weeks since I started keto and I have to admit – I’m bored. How much cheese/eggs/steak/broccoli, cauliflower/cabbage and nuts can you eat? I’m all about variety in my diet and I get bored so easily!


One thing I promised myself when I started this diet was that I was not going to spend my day in the kitchen preparing special foods for myself. I was going to adapt my regular family recipes and make them work for me, and so far it’s been working. When I wanted to make this soup, I just substituted the bread crumbs with almond flour and removed some of the soup for myself before adding the orzo. I added some cauliflower rice to my portion and it was such a nice change from my typical steak and roasted veggie dinner!

Coming up with soups that aren’t tomato or bean based is a little difficult (tomatoes are not encouraged on keto because they are high in sugar). In general I’m a big fan of legumes in soup, and I love grains like barley and farro too, so it’s a challenge. I decided I wanted to do a keto-approved riff on mushroom barley soup, since everyone in the house loves it, but I knew I couldn’t use barley. I decided to use cauliflower to give the soup some creaminess and body, and it was a huge hit. I didn’t tell my cauliflower-hating kid that it had her least favorite veggie in there and she thought it was delicious (until she watched my Instagram story and was suddenly nauseous – ha!)
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So alas, this Mushroom Cauli Soup – a play on Mushroom Barley Soup – so long as you say CAULI with the same enunciation as BARLEY :)

Mushroom Cauli Soup

3 tbsp olive oil, divided
2 10oz. pkgs cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 3.5oz pkg shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 cluster oyster mushroom, chopped
1 large leek, white and pale green part only, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 head cauliflower, roughly chopped, or 1 pkg. frozen
1 large zucchini, roughly chopped
32oz. chicken stock or broth (I use Imagine no-chicken broth)
2 cups water
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp Trader Joes umami seasoning, optional
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a soup pot or dutch oven. Add the mushrooms and saute until all the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms start to caramelize. Remove from the pan. Add an additional tbsp of olive oil, leeks and garlic and saute until softened and fragrant. Deglaze with wine and scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining ingredients and bring the soup to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are soft and tender, about 20 minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend half of the soup so some chunks of cauliflower remain. Stir in the mushrooms and serve.

VARIATION: Add some heavy cream or coconut milk before serving for a creamy finish!


Related Recipes:

zucchini basil soup
spinach white bean minestrone with zoodles
cream of leek soup

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Lemony Orzo Soup with Meatballs

Hello, hello my fellow winter bunnies. It’s officially cold out, even the snow has made an appearance this week. I find winter pretty depressing tbh, and if it was up to me, I’d stay indoors snuggling under my covers until Spring!

The only thing that really gets me through winter is my down coat, fingerless gloves (so I can answer my DM’S!), some uplifting music, and hearty soups. That last one is mandatory.

I’ve never been that much of a soup person because it’s just ANOTHER thing to make for dinner, but I’ve found that my kids really love a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter night, and if you play your culinary cards right – it doesn’t have to be that extra thing at dinner, it can actually BE dinner.

To turn your soup into a one pot meal, follow these basic guidelines:

1. include a protein: chicken, shredded beef, meatballs, smoked turkey, tofu
3. include grains: pasta (orzo, couscous, ramen), farro, barley, quinoa, rice
2. include vegetables: endless options!

If you’re feeling  like you need a little somethin somethin on the side, make a salad or serve with fresh baguettes or pita for dipping!

Hoping this hearty soup keeps you warm all winter long!

Lemony Orzo Soup with Meatballs

For the meatballs:

1.25 lbs. ground chicken
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 egg
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil

Method:

In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients besides for the oil. Mix and form into mini meatballs. Heat a dutch oven over medium heat, add the oil and and brown the meatballs. Remove from the pot as you prepare them and set aside.

For the soup:

1 medium onion, diced small
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced small
2 stalks celery, diced small
1 large zucchini, diced small
8 cups vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
Juice of 2 lemons
salt and pepper, to taste
1 c orzo
2 handfuls of spinach

Method:

Add the onion and garlic to the same pot that you browned the meatballs in (add additional olive oil, if necessary). Saute until translucent. Add the carrots, celery and zucchini and continue to saute until softened.  Add the stock, bay leaves and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.Add the meatballs and orzo and cook until the orzo is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the spinach leaves and serve.

Other hearty winter soups:

crockpot mushroom barley stoup
spinach matzo ball minestrone soup
smoky split pea soup with thyme dumplings
cream of chicken soup in bread bowls

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Zucchini Basil Soup


I’ve dreamt about this day for a very very long time. In just a few short months, I’m officially going to add cookbook author to my resume! I can’t believe this is really happening, somebody pinch me! The truth is, this news isn’t exactly new. It’s been almost a year in the planning. But I’m finally able to spill the beans and share it with you all! My cookbook is being published by Artscroll Publications and is set for release in May 2018. It’s going to KNOCK YOUR FREAKIN SOCKS OFF!

It’s no surprise that I’m avid cookbook collector, and something I see a lot in kosher cookbooks is the same traditional recipes made over and over again, with slight tweaks and changes. I can’t give away my cookbook theme quite yet, but let me just say, there’s going to be something for everyone. The cookbook will have fresh, new recipes that you haven’t seen before, and there’s going to be a mix of healthy recipes, indulgent recipes, everyday recipes, holiday recipes, quick and easy recipes, and slightly more gourmet recipes. The book will have some of your favorite recipes from the blog (about 20%), but mostly brand new recipes that you’ve never seen before (80%!). I’ve been testing and retesting recipes for months, and as I near the end of the testing stage, I’m going to move on to recipe writing and photography. I’m both nervous and excited for this huge undertaking, but mostly I’m anxious to share it all with you!

I’m going to do my best to keep things exciting here on the BIB blog, but if I don’t post as much as usual, just know that it’ll all be worth it in the end. I’ll keep you posted with more details as they become available!


Zucchini Basil Soup

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 large zucchini, roughly chopped
4 cups vegetable stock
salt & pepper, to taste
handful of fresh basil
fresh basil or arugula, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes, for garnish

Method:

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onion, saute until translucent. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the zucchini, stock, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the zucchini is tender. Add the basil and puree with an immersion blender until smooth and creamy. You can adjust the consistency by adding water, if needed. Serve and garnish with greens, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes.

Related Recipes:

spinach white bean minestrone with zoodles
roasted tomato soup
roasted butternut squash soup

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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, 5 Ways

I have been waiting to post this recipe for months! I kept trying different variations,  cooking temps and times until I found the easiest and most delicious version. I love this dinner because of how simple it is (duh) and because there is just so much you can do with it. I think the chicken fajita bowls are my favorite (because I’m obsessed with food in bowls right now), but the nachos are pretty addictive too.

A lot of thought went into this recipe, including what type of chicken to use. I’m not a fan of skinless roasted chicken breast because it’s just. so. dry. Chicken thighs, on the other hand, are pretty impossible to mess up. Even if you overcook them a little, their fat content keeps them super moist. I also decided to keep these whole for roasting, because cutting them into strips would dry them out. Like I said, lots of thought people, lots of thought.

I’ve also tested this recipe with store bought fajita seasoning (which has added cornstarch, soybeans and wheat) and my homemade version won by a landslide. I love that this recipe is “clean” so if you choose to trash it up with homemade tortilla chips, no one is judging you :)

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

1 medium spanish onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 red pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 yellpw pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 green pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 orange pepper, sliced into strips
6 dark meat chicken cutlets (deboned chicken thighs)
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fajita seasoning (recipe follows)
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

On a greased sheet pan, mix the peppers and onions with 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp fajita spice, salt and pepper. Spread out over the tray. Place the chicken over the peppers and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tbsp fajita spice, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Mix the peppers and place them over the chicken. Return to the oven and broil on high for 5-8 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until peppers and onions are caramelized and crisped around the edges.

For a simple dinner, serve over rice or check out the other 5 ways below!

Homemade Fajita Spice

2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 tsp kosher salt

Mix to combine and store in an airtight container. Makes 5 tablespoons.

Chicken Fajita Salad

1 head Rommaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 avocado, diced
3 pieces fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
tortilla strips (store bought or homemade, recipe follows)

Method:

Spread the lettuce out on a large platter. Top with tomatoes, black beans, avocado, peppers and onions, chicken and tortilla strips. Drizzle with salsa dressing. Alternatively, serve in individual bowls.

Creamy Salsa Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup salsa

Mix the mayo and salsa until creamy and serve over salad.

Homemade Tortilla Strips

1 pkg corn tortillas
oil, for frying

Cut the tortillas into thin strips and fry in hot oil until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Chicken Fajita Bowls

2 cups long grain rice, cooked according to package directions
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 avocados, thinly sliced
6 pieces fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
6 eggs, prepared sunny side up
sriracha and scallions, for garnish

Method:

Divide the rice into 6 serving bowls. Add black beans, avocado, chicken, onions and peppers. Top with a fried egg and garnish with scallions and sriracha.

Chicken Fajita Tacos

1 package soft corn tortillas
fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
shredded iceberg lettuce
avocado crema (recipe follows)
salsa
lime wedges

Method:

Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat, until pliable. Fill each tortilla with chicken, peppers, onion and lettuce. Drizzle with avocado crema and garnish with salsa and lime wedges.

Avocado Crema

1 large avocado
1/2 cup mayonnaise or nondairy sour cream
juice of 1 lime
1 clove garlic
kosher salt, to taste

Puree the ingredients in a food processor or blender, adding water, if needed, to reach desired consistency.

Fajita Nachos

1 pkg soft corn tortillas
oil for frying
sheet pan peppers and onions
fajita chicken, cut into strips
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 container nondairy sour cream
2 avocados
juice of 1/2 lemon
kosher salt

Method:

Cut the corn tortillas into wedges. Heat oil in a skillet and fry the tortillas until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Mash the avocados and add lemon and salt, to taste. Set aside.

Spread the chips out on a platter and top with onions and peppers, chicken, diced tomatoes and black beans. Drizzle sour cream over the nachos and top with a scoop of avocado.

EASY OPTION: Use store-bought tortilla chips

Chicken Fajita Soup

sheet tray peppers and onions
2 tsp fajita seasoning (recipe posted above)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 32 oz. carton chicken or vegetable stock
salt and pepper, to taste
jalapeño, avocado, red onion, cilantro, nondairy sour cream, and tortilla strips, for topping

Method:

Place the onions and peppers in a medium sized pot and cook over medium heat until warmed through. Add the fajita seasoning and tomato paste and stir until the spices are fragrant and the tomato paste starts to caramelize. Add diced tomatoes, stock, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Slice the chicken into strips and add to the soup. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.

Related Recipes:

bunless fajita dogs
tortilla crusted chicken fingers
grilled chicken shawarma salad
grilled chicken salad with jalapeno honey mustard dressing

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Curried Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup
with Cilantro Matzo Balls

It’s that time of year again. The season is (finally) changing, the leaves are starting to color, and Pumpkin Spice Latte is back on the Starbuck’s menu. It’s when all the blogs start to dish out their sweet pumpkin creations and I betchya thought I was one of them.

Pumpkin is alright. I even made my usual mini pumpkin pies for Rosh Hashanah last week. What I didn’t make was tzimmes. Lets just say that that cloyingly sweet dish of honey-sweetened carrots and sweet potatoes (sometimes with added prunes) is not one of my favorites. My mom always makes a big pot (tradition!) with the addition of marrow bones and flanken, but somehow it always manages to make it’s rounds around the table, barely making a dent in the heaping pile of sweetness. That’s just it – the stuff is just. too. sweet. And the more I discuss holiday menu’s with people, the more I hear that tzimmes is on the out (I guess my tzimmes roast is going to get buried real deep in the archives!)

Most people keep tzimmes on their menus because it’s traditional to eat carrots over the holidays. Besides for the obvious symbolism for a sweet New Year, the Yiddish word for carrots is meren, to multiply, which is a blessing we hope for in the coming year. Not being a big fan of tzimmes, I try to incorporate my carrots elsewhere, such as in a raw slaw, or roasting them with some maple and harissa.

It occurred to me that with Yom Kippur upon us, and Sukkot not too far away, a savory play on tzimmes ingredients might we a welcome change. I decided to do that in the form of a soup, and to incorporate some of my favorite Thai flavors – curry (for some heat), honey (for some sweet) and coconut milk (for some creaminess). To make it festive and holiday worthy, I added cilantro matzo balls to round out the flavors and keep things exciting!

Truth be told, I’m not a big fan of cilantro but I am coming around. I used to find it completely intolerable but I am slowly sneaking in small amounts and it’s growing on me. Honey + curry though are one of my favorite combinations and I use it in curries, chicken recipes, fish dishes, roasted chickpeas and even popcorn. There’s something about the sweet and spicy that I absolutely love.

I can’t tell you how many posts I’ve seen on Facebook recently lamenting the lack of savory recipes in kosher cookbooks. Every roast is smothered in a sweet concoction, chicken is doused in apricot jam and don’t even get me started on the ridiculous amount of sugar in salad dressings. I mean, I get it. I grew up that way too. But the only way out of the sugar coma is to slowly reduce the amount of sweetness you add to recipes and to introduce more savory (and if you’re open to it, spicy) food. It’s all about conditioning your palette. If you go back to the old recipes on my blog, you can see for yourself how I’ve slowly transitioned to more savory foods. Now, when I taste a salad that’s been doused in sweet dressing, I can’t even swallow it.

There’s a place in food for all that sugar – it’s called dessert, and that’s why we all love it so much! And finishing a meal off with something sweet is precisely why you should start it with something savory. So, now that Rosh Hashanah is behind us, and we don’t *have* to douse everything in apples and honey, lets welcome the New Year with a newer savory approach to food. This curried carrot and sweet potato soup is a great place to start because it’s both sweet and savory with a nice amount of heat from the ginger and curry.

Wishing you a sweet New Year as sweet as honey and as spicy as curry. Shanah Tova Umetuka!

Curried Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup

1 large Spanish onion, peeled and diced
1 tbsp coconut oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp curry powder
4 large carrots (about 2 lbs), peeled and roughly chopped
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs), peeled and roughly chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
1 14oz. can coconut milk
2-3 tbsp honey, or, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
cilantro, for garnish

Method:

In a soup pot, saute the onion in coconut oil until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger and saute until softened. Add the curry powder and continue to saute until fragrant. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, broth, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender and add the coconut milk and honey. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. If desired, you may adjust the consistency by adding more coconut milk, stock or water.

Cilantro Matzo Balls

1 packet Lipton matzo ball mix
2 eggs
1 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

While the soup is cooking, prepare the matzo balls. Mix 2 eggs with 1 tbsp of oil and cilantro in a bowl. Add the matzo ball mix and stir with a fork until evenly combined. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. With wet hands, form matzo ball batter into small balls and place in the water. Simmer for 15 minutes.

To serve, ladle soup into bowls and garnish with coconut milk and cilantro. Add matzo balls.

NOTE: If you’d like a deeper cilantro flavor, you may increase to 1/4 cup or more. If you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley instead.

YIELD: approximately 8 cups.



This post was sponsored by Lipton Kosher. All opinions are my own. 

Related Recipes:

peanut chicken curry
curry chicken salad
coconut crusted fish with curry aioli
curried rice salad
butternut squash soup with shallots and apples

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