20 Different Soups With 10 Ingredients

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As we enter into the throes of winter, who doesn't appreciate a steaming bowl of soup on a cold, blustery day? The problem is, while the thought of soup is appealing, heading outside on cold winter days to buy some just isn’t.

The good news is, you only need a few basic ingredients to make a variety of delicious soups in just minutes. So make sure you have these staples on hand and you’ll be all set with a pot of yummy, hearty goodness in no time at all.

10 Essential Items to Make More Than 20 Different Soups

Onions
Carrots
Celery
Potatoes
Vegetable broth
Butter
Flour
Milk
Cheese
Salt/Pepper

For a broth-based low-fat soup, use a large soup pot to sauté chopped onions, celery carrots and potatoes in a little butter. When soft, add the vegetable broth and any other add-ins you like (see examples below). Add salt, pepper and other spices to taste. Bring to a boil, then let simmer over low for 15 minutes or until meat is cooked and beans/vegetables/grains are tender.

Here are just some of the broth-based soups you can make using the method above:

Vegetable Barley
Chicken Noodle
Spinach and Kale
Sausage and Bean
Vegetable Couscous
Potato and Leek
Bean Medley
Shrimp and Wild Rice
Low-Fat Broccoli
Low-Fat Chicken Corn

For a cream-based soup, follow the steps for a broth-based soup above. In a separate pot, melt butter (use more for a richer soup, less for a lower-fat cream soup). Add an equal amount of flour and stir over low heat until a paste forms. Add small amounts of milk a little at a time, stirring constantly until you have a thick, creamy white sauce. Add a little chopped or shredded cheese if desired, and stir until melted. Pour the cream sauce into soup broth. Voila – a cream-based soup made simply by adding a couple of extra steps.

Here's just a sample of the cream-based soups you can make: