Slow-Cooker Heaven: 3 Hearty, Delicious Winter Soups

Soups and stews are winter favorites because they’re SO comforting and easy to make. It’s incredibly rewarding to whip up a great big pot of soup at the beginning of the week and have leftovers right through to the weekend. Making soups in a slow cooker is even more satisfying … what could be simpler?

Here are 3 healthy, tasty winter soups to try out.

SLOW-COOKER CLASSIC CHICKEN SOUP

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 5 carrots, diced
• 2 onions, diced
• 4 celery stalks, diced
• 1 3-pound whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 6 cups water
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more for salting the chicken and to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 bay leaf

Place garlic, carrots, onion, and celery in the liner of your slow cooker. Pat chicken dry and season generously with sea salt, then add to the slow cooker. Add the water, dill, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Set on low for 8 hours. Once done, discard the bay leaf and remove the chicken to shred. Discard the skin and bones.

Place shredded chicken back into the slow cooker. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

SLOW COOKER SHORT RIB STEW

• 2 pounds boneless short ribs
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or grass-fed butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 potatoes, cubed
• 4 large carrots, diced
• 2 cups diced tomatoes
• 5 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, more to taste
• Pinch of paprika
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Optional: 1 cup cremini mushrooms
• Optional: 2 parsnips, diced

Trim excess fat off of the short ribs and cut them into small 1 1/2 inch bite-size cubes. Season generously with salt and pepper.

In a skillet, heat oil or butter and brown short ribs on all sides.

Place garlic, onion, potatoes carrots, and the parsnips and mushrooms if adding, in the bottom of your slow cooker. Place meat on top, and then add in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, arrowroot flour, teaspoon of salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes.

Set slow cooker to low for 8 hours. Once done, remove thyme sprigs and bay leaf, and add additional salt, pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes as desired.

SLOW COOKER VEGGIE-MEATBALL SOUP

For the soup

• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 2 handfuls kale, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• Any other veggies of choice: broccoli, green beans, celery, potatoes
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or oil of choice
• 1 quart Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Bone Broth
• 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1/2-1 teaspoon fine pink sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste
• Optional: black beans

For the meatballs

• 1 lb. organic ground turkey or grass-fed beef
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic granules
• 1/4 teaspoon onion granules
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

In a pot, heat oil and sauté garlic, onion, carrots, and red pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until veggies begin to soften.

Add the kale, zucchini, and any other soft veggies you’re using. While cooking, combine meatball ingredients and roll into mini balls.

Move veggies to one side and place meatballs into the pot. (You may need to add oil to the bottom to avoid sticking.) Let them cook for 5 minutes without tossing at first, then gently toss and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, broth, lemon juice and spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Taste and adjust salt and spice as desired.

ENJOY WINTER ENTERTAINING WITH JERRY’S KITCHEN

The catering experts at Jerry’s Kitchen can help you plan an awesome birthday, anniversary, family reunion or corporate celebration. Book our award-winning food trucks – or work with our catering services team to arrange a classic feast with all your wintertime favorites.

To arrange catering services for your private or corporate event near Doylestown or Philadelphia, give us a call!

Source

Lexi’s Clean Kitchen