Mmmm ~~ Potato Soup on a cold, cold winter day. I really needed to be warmed way down to the insides of my toes ~~ and this did the trick. ;^) Do you love potato soup? My mother’s recipe for potato soup is always a favorite at my house. But today, I spiced it up.
I have a nice fire going in the wood-stove. I’ve been sipping on hot tea all day. I just needed something else. So when I got hungry, I checked the kitchen for ingredients and I had the makings of potato soup with a kick. That’s what I needed! A little something more … something to spice up a dreary day. Diced green chilies sounded like a great combination with the potatoes. I always choose the mild ones, but you could increase the heat level to your own preference.
Gather your ingredients ~~ here we go:
3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large purple onion
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon chili pepper
1 7-ounce can mild, diced green chilies
1 cup rice milk (or your choice of milk) (I’m vegetarian, so no dairy milk here.)
1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons of sea salt
Simmering slices of potatoes
Simmer the potatoes in 2 cups of water in a covered pot until tender, about 20 minutes. Mash a few of the potatoes in the cooking water, but leave the remainder in chunks.
Sauteed Vegetables and Spices
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the onion for a few minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, cumin, basil, and chili pepper and cook until the onion is translucent ~~ just a few more minutes. Add this mixture to the cooked potatoes, along with the can of green chilies, the rice milk (or your preference of milk) and the sea salt.
A Colorful Soup!
Stir to blend and serve! Serves 4-6. This is plenty for large bowls of just soup (that’s all I needed!) Or, you could add a salad. A rustic whole-grain bread would be great, too.
This goes together fairly quickly. I was glad, as I waited too long to cook and I was very hungry! The mild green chilies add just enough spice to satisfy my Oklahoma/New Mexico heritage, while staying close enough to the mild side of the potatoes to be soothing.
Hearty, Healthy, Comfort Food
This is a great comfort-food, but it is still a healthy alternative! Enjoy ~~ and if you try this soup in your kitchen, let me know what you think.
;^)
Miss Cynthia L. H.
Sounds good to me. I didn’t realise that you were vegetarian to the extent of not using milk products – almost vegan then?
Almost. ;^) (That doesn’t really count then, does it??!!) ;^) I don’t use dairy products unless I’m baking ~~ and then I break all of my rules. ;^) But I don’t drink dairy milk, ever. I never have liked it, even before I made the switch in 2006. I had grown to like soy, but I’ve been reading discouraging news about it. So, I’m using rice milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. I like them all! ;^) Thank you for stopping in so quickly, Graham. I always appreciate your visits.
As a child I never liked milk and I drink very little of it now although I will drink and use semi-skimmed (low fat) milk. I’ve never been able to cope with Soy milk but I use coconut milk a lot in cooking.
Sounds like me! I was always one of those children who had to be told continually, “Drink your milk! It’s good for you!” (Um ~~ not really ….) ;^)
Even now, I don’t want the milk to have a taste. I just want it for texture, I guess. (That doesn’t really sound right.) ;^p For instance, to thin down my bowl of oatmeal in the morning, or to drink with a peanut-butter/honey sandwich. ;^) I like the coconut milk, but it has to be for something that adds to the taste, like in a rice custard or something like that.
We love potato soup, and this one sounds especially delicious…we’ll make it! The potato pieces simmering makes a NEAT photo, bordering on jewel-like! I think I’m warmer just reading your post, and I needed that! Thanks for taking the time to share those moments with us.
Ann,
Thank you for taking the time to stop in! ;^)
Potato soup is definitely an all-time family favorite. This one was fun and zippy. ;^)
I had not thought about the photo in the way you describe it ~~ I like that. ;^)
Hugs,
Miss C
Looks delicious! I’ll have to try it!!
How did I miss this? Sounds Yummy!!!
I don’t know!!! ;^) Kind of like me — missing a lot of blog activity lately! ;^-