Saturday, February 17, 2018

Dirty Rice Gumbo Soup for #SoupSaturdaySwappers

 I'm so glad I'm a member of this group, Soup Saturday Swappers.   I get to, not only make soup and eat it, and share the recipes here, but I also get to explore other cuisines.  This month the challenge, well, theme actually, was Mardi Gras - Cajun or Creole Soup.  It's being hosted by Kathy of A Spoonful of Thyme
I love Cajun/Creole food and while I like Gumbo and Jambalaya and Etouffee, I know there's more to the cuisine than just those.   One dish that I make for myself from time to time is Dirty Rice, from the box, cause it's easy.   And I like it.
I've also been doing an inventory of my pantry and freezer lately as well.  Amazing the stuff I've been finding in both places.  I have a lot of chopped tomatoes frozen and waiting, odds and end from numerous Taco nights, and I hate to throw out a tablespoon or more each time, so into the
freezer it goes.  I also have a lot of beans, navy, cannellini, kidney, black and garbanzo's in the pantry as well.
Where am I going with this?  Well, in the best tradition of not only Cajun foods but also soup making, I used up bits and pieces and came up with one of the best soups I've ever made.  BTW a Cajun friend of mine summed up Cajun food in just a few words once, when I asked him what Cajun food was, "It's Cajun if it's something you don't think you can eat and you eat it anyway, that's Cajun."
I think I'll stick to this soup for awhile. 
 It was so good in fact, as tempting as it might be, I'm only eating it one bowl at a time.
Did I mention that this is also mostly vegetarian?
It is.  And if you had some vegetable stock, you could make it totally vegetarian.  You could also add meat to it.  Maybe some chicken, some sausage, some shrimp, maybe even ham?  You choose. 



Yield: 6 servings

Dirty Rice Gumbo Soup

prep time: 5 MINScook time: 30 MINStotal time: 35 mins
This soup is right up there with the best traditions of Cajun and Creole cooking in that it uses up bits of leftovers and turns it into a hearty, yet healthy soup. And it's ready to eat in about 30 minutes or so.

ingredients:


8 cups stock, vegetable or chicken
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 can of corn-okra- tomatoes or
1/2 -1 cup corn, frozen works
1/2 to 1 cup okra - canned or frozen
1/2 to 1 cup chopped tomatoes - opt.
1 can Navy Beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 chopped jalapenos
1 cup diced celery
2 roasted and chopped onions
1 package Zatarains Dirty Rice prepared according to directions.

instructions:


Add the vegetable to the stock and let it come to a boil, then simmer while you prepare the Dirty Rice. 
When the rice is ready, add a spoonful to a bowl and then top off with the soup.  The vegetables will be nice and tender.  Serve with a hard roll, or buttered bread or ?
This is a hearty, filling soup and with the rice and beans you also have a complete protein. 

notes

Note:  
You can add cooked chicken, sausage or ham to this as well.  
I always have frozen tomatoes in my freezer, anytime we have fresh tomatoes and don't eat it all, I throw it into a baggie and into the freezer and add them to my spaghetti sauce or to soup.
 All recipes and their respective images are either original or adapted and credited, and are all the sole property of Sid's Sea Palm Cooking © 2011-2018, with all rights reserved thereof. 
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Sidsel Munkholm - Author
Sidsel Munkholm - Author

Sid loves to cook, feed people and have fun in the kitchen. She shares her successes and the involuntary offerings she sometimes gives the kitchen goddess as well. And she's still looking for the mythical fairy to help her clean the kitchen after a marathon cooking session. Currently working on a cookbook showcasing the recipes from her Danish heritage.

14 comments:

  1. I love that you were able to put together a soup from what was on hand! Gumbo and okra are "one"! Great combinations in your soup!

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    1. Thanks. It was really good, and filling. I ate on it all week, and then froze the rest.

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  2. Sid, I just love that you save those tomatoes! And what a great soup you made with what you had on hand! Excellent! P~

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    1. I've been doing that for awhile now, just hate throwing out those bits of leftover tomatoes. They came in handy this time.

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  3. That's one of my favorite things about soup...you can use whatever you have on hand and it is still comforting and delicious.

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    1. In the best Cajun tradition, I made a Cajun style soup out of what I had on hand. Although I think I'm going to have to do it again, soon.

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  4. Replies
    1. It was a comforting bowl of soup. The leftovers went in the freezer and they tasted good as well. After thawing and reheating them that is.

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  5. I definitely need a "clean out my pantry and freezer" kind of soup recipe. I have so many bits and pieces of things in the freezer that would be perfect for soup. This sounds delish.

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    Replies
    1. It was a soup made in the best Cajun tradition, using what I had at hand and making an amazing soup, which may be doing a repeat here soon. Although I'll have to use my canned tomatoes instead cause I'm all out of frozen.

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  6. I don't think I've ever had Zantaran's dirty rice- I have made another from them though and liked it- I love soups that come together from the freezer- this looks like a good one!

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  7. I love this gumbo that uses all the leftovers from the fridge. Great recipe Sid!

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  8. Your Gumbo looks delicious, there is nothing better than a great bowl of Gumbo! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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  9. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work... butcher market in Guildford

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