Hearty Soups for Busy Weeknights

Preparing a meal for yourself or for the family after a long, busy day at work can be quite tiring. As much as you would like, eating out or ordering in throughout the week isn’t an option. It’s just not healthy (for your body and your budget). When you don’t have it in you to prepare a full-fledged meal, your best option is soups! Soups aren’t just quick to prepare but highly nutritious as well. You’ll find plenty of easy soup recipes to prepare a hearty meal without compromising on the flavor or your health!

You can easily pack various nutritious ingredients with soups in a single meal. The options for customization are endless with soups. So, if you’re looking for easy dinner options for busy weeknights that are healthy, homemade, and quick, soups are your best bet!

This blog post is all about easy soup recipes you can make for dinner on busy weeknights. Let’s dive into a soupy journey!

Tips for Making Delicious Soups in No Time

Although soups are simple and quick to make, if you aren’t prepared well, even soups can take a lot of time (and energy). Here are some tips to help you prepare a wholesome, soupy meal in absolutely no time!

Make the Base Flavorful

You may be tempted to toss your favorite vegetables in boiling water to prepare a quick soup. While a water base is definitely an option, it won’t be as delicious as you might want. To make delicious soups, make the base flavorful. You can use canned stock or homemade broth. In case you’re conscious about preservatives and want to avoid using canned stock, you can always prepare a bulk of broth over the weekend and freeze packets big enough for one dinner and quickly toss it in the pot when you return from work and let it simmer while you take a shower. 

Use for Frozen Vegetables for Your Soup

Instead of chopping fresh vegetables, save time and energy by using frozen vegetables for your soup. If you’re concerned about the nutrition of frozen vegetables, you can rest assured that frozen vegetables are packed when they’re most fresh and highly nutritious. 

Use Plenty of Proteins

Protein sources like chicken, beans, turkey, etc., not only make your soups healthy, but they also make your soups satisfying and fulfilling. You don’t have to worry about waking up to a growling stomach in the middle of the night. 

Hearty Soup Recipes

Now that you know how to save time when making soup, let’s look at some of the quickest and most delicious soup recipes that you can make on busy weeknights. 

Vegetable Soup with Lentils and Quinoa

Ingredients:

· Vegetable broth

· Diced tomatoes

· Dried onion

· Minced garlic cloves

· Rinsed lentils

· Rinsed quinoa 

· Frozen vegetables

· Salt and pepper

· Olive oil

· Dried oregano

Recipe

1. Take a large pot and heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.

2. Add garlic and onions and cook for a few minutes till they’re softened.

3. Then, stir and add vegetable broth, lentils, diced tomatoes, quinoa, frozen mixed vegetables, and dried oregano.

4. Let the soup simmer on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes to let the quinoa cook completely.

5. Season the soup with salt and pepper.

Your soup is ready to serve. 

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is the most comforting soup you can try on a tiring weeknight. All you need is 30 minutes, and you’ll be done. 

Ingredients

· Peeled, sliced carrots

· Thin, sliced celery

· Peeled and diced yellow onion

· Minced garlic cloves

· Chicken broth

· Bay leaves

· Fresh thyme or dried thyme

· Dried oregano

· Wide egg noodles or any of your favorite pasta or noodles 

· Shredded cooked chicken

· Finely chopped parsley leaves

· Lemon juice (optional)

· Pepper to taste

· Salt to taste

· Olive oil

Recipe

1. Take a large stock pot and heat olive oil on medium-high heat.

2. Add celery, carrots, and onions and sauté’ for a few minutes till the vegetables soften, then add garlic and sauté for a few more minutes.

3. Next, add the chicken broth, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper, bring the mixture to a boil, and let it boil until the vegetables are fork-tender.

4. Then add noodles and let them cook in broth until they’re cooked.

5. Lastly, add chicken, parsley, and lemon juice. Adjust the salt as per your taste.

Delicious chicken noodle soup is ready!

Coconut Curry and Noodle Soup

Ingredients 

· Chopped garlic cloves

· Gratedfresh ginger

· Thai red curry paste

· Boneless chicken 

· Chicken broth

· Fish sauce

· Coconut milk

· Dried rice vermicelli noodles

· Sliced red onion, lime wedges, cilantro, red chilis, scallions

· Oil

Recipe

Heat oil in a large pot and add ginger, garlic, and Thai curry paste. Fry on medium-high heat until fragrant. Then add chicken and cook till chicken turns opaque. Add chicken broth, coconut milk, and fish sauce, and bring the mixture to a boil. Add salt according to your preference. When the seasoning of soup is adjusted to your liking, add dried rice vermicelli noodles and cook till the noodles are done. Add a dash of lime and your preferred garnishes, and enjoy a bowl of hearty soup. 

You don’t have to follow any of these recipes to the dot. The best thing about soups is that you don’t have to stick to any recipe. You can always play around with the ingredients you like. You can replace the meat in the recipe with your preferred choice and can adjust the spices and garnishes however you like. 

Enjoy Hearty Soups at Sur Carmel

If, on any day, you just want to relax with a hot bowl of soup but aren’t in the mood to make it yourself, head straight to Sur Carmel. You won’t only get the best soup of your life, but you’ll also enjoy a picturesque view. Sur Carmel was named the Best Restaurant in Carmel Valley in 2022 and 2023. When planning a visit, know you’re in for a great experience!