Thursday, January 7, 2010

Creamy Chickpea Soup and Walnut Argula Pesto

Happy almost Friday! It has been one busy week so far and I am hoping for some down time this weekend. Despite the buzy-ness, I have had a time to make some wonderful dishes. The first I made by compiling a few different recipes I’ve found which resulted in creamy chickpea soup. The soup itself is vegan, but for Josh, I added some additional toppings/add ins. Josh’s soup:

Creamy Chickpea Soup (Vegan) (~ 3 servings)

Ingredients
  • Olive oil
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 2-3 celery stalks, chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 yellow squash, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 can chickpeas (chickpeas and liquid)
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon thyme, dried
  • ¼ cup cashew cream
  • Chives (optional)
  • Sherry Vinegar (optional)

Additional optional toppings (non vegan):
Cheese
Cooked chorizo, pancetta or bacon (cook until crispy)

Directions:

Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and celery and season with salt and pepper. Cook three minutes until just starting to soft, add yellow squash. Cook an additional 3 or 4 minutes until veggies just start to brown. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer. Add chickpeas, vegetable broth and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Add cashew cream and utilize an immersion blender to puree soup (alternatively, work in batches using a blender). Top with additional thyme, chives, and sherry vinegar, if desired.

For non-vegan version, top with cheese. For non-vegetarian version, top with cooked chorizo.

We enjoyed our soup with bread for dunking and additional fruits/veggies on the side. It was very tasty (and even better reheated!).

I also made up my first batch of Pesto, Arugula Walnut Pesto. I found a recipe in a cookbook that I won from the fabulous Shannon quite some time ago. The outcome:

Did you make anything fun in the kitchen this week? Please share recipe links!! I’m always looking for new/different ideas. Enjoy your weekends!

59 comments:

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

Mmmm you hit my weak spot! I love that arugula pesto. You soup also looks delish. Really warm and comforting to me now since we have alot of snow. :)

Have a great night!

Whitney @ Lettuce Love said...

Oohh I have been craving pesto! Delish :)

Leah @ L4L said...

Cashew cream? Interesting...

I made Gomen Wat and Miso Soup this weekend!

http://leftoversforlunch.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/world-traveler/

~M~ said...

WOW!!! That soup sounds so yummy!!!


I have been sick for the last few days so I haven't made anything new and exciting.

Molly said...

I will be trying that delish soup asap! looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

I would never have thought about making a soup out of chickpeas - crazy! Looks delicious, though.

Hope your week slows down and that you have a relaxing weekend!

Katie said...

Mmm, those both look amazing! I've been craving both soup AND pesto lately... these are keepers!

Paige@ RunningaroundNormal said...

That soup looks amazing!! Very creative, Erica :D
I just saw Jessica's, comment, but I was going to say, she made a post about arugula pesto a while ago, and I wanted to try it out, and this post just reminded me of it! Now to go out and buy some arugula!

I Run for Fun said...

Mmm...the soup loos so yum and comforting. Happy New Year!!!

Unknown said...

ooh, glad the cookbook came in handy :) did you like the pesto?

i made this last night (minus celery root) and just tried it at work, it was delish!
http://virginiafoodie.typepad.com/gardenapartment/2009/12/root-vegetable-salad-with-cranberries-pecans-and-an-orange-dressing.html

Holly said...

I have never made pesto...but EVERY time I see it, my mouth waters!! Yours looks amazing. As does your soup! I LOVE chickpeas.

This week I made Pumpkin Fluff and Pumpkin Spiced Chickpeas (from Mama Pea). Loved 'em both - obviously I have a pumpkin problem?!

Cookie Sorkin said...

I love your blog.

fittingbackin said...

oh wow - both the soup and pesto look SO good! I made a lemon basil shrimp today - just posted the recipe!! :) (cooking light!) I've never heard of cashew cream??

homecookedem said...

Both dishes look awesome!! What is cashew cream? It sounds divine!

K from ksgoodeats said...

Chickpea soup?! Seriously? Seriously?!?! I'm in love! I'm going to have to make this ASAP!

Hope you had a good Thursday and an even better Friday! Our girls are back tonight :)

Nicci said...

chickpea soup looks delicious! i will have to add this recipe to my list of ones to try.

Marisa @Loser for Life said...

What a delicious soup! I love all things chick pea!!!

I had lots of fun in the kitchen this week experimenting with chia seeds! I think I'm sort of obsessed now -lol! My latest creation was Chocolate Cranberry Chia Muffin Tops - yummy :)

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

great soup and i cant tell if those are real noodles or zuke noods, but i just posted a great zuke raw easy noodle recipe!
love your vegan creamy soup!!

Britt said...

Yum the pesto looks great, as does the soup!!

I tried out the mexican style chicken soup in this month's Fitness magazine, YUMMY!

Hope you have a great FRIDAY!

Sana said...

Yummm- I love chickpeas and pesto! Basically the two best things ever :)

kilax said...

I really want to find a good pesto recipes. I have been craving it for some time. Most store version aren't vegan (or that good!).

Anonymous said...

That soup looks fantastic! Hope you're doing well- happy new year!

Lauren said...

I do the exact same thing for Toly when I make soups/stews and chilis. Since I don't eat meat, I leave it out but then add it on top to his bowl after I cook it. Just last night, I made chili and added turkey and cheese on his bowl. It's a win win for both of us! ;)

Abbys Vegan Eats said...

Erica, BOTH these recipes are right up my alley!!! Thanks for sharing. Ive been looking for a really good soup recipe because its sooo cold.. this one looks perfect!

Enjoy your weekend, hun!!

Krista said...

I love chickpeas so I bet this would be a great soup! The pesto looks good, too. I've been too busy too cook up any recipes. :(

Pining for Pinterest said...

Looks wonderful! I know this may sound like a stupid question, but where do you get the cashew cream? Is it from a speciality store?

Esi said...

This soup sounds incredible! Is there a replacement I could use for the cashew cream?

Veggies, Cake & Cocktails said...

I don't think I made anything fun this week. We've been getting ready for our trip so we've pretty much been eating out.

Diana said...

Yummy eats...esp the pesto!

I made Eat Drink & Be Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (click for link)! They were AWESOME. I made 2 minor changes to the recipe, but the base one is great!

And this recipe by Simply Recipes has been a BIG hit with my friends!

:) Diana

Rene said...

I made a lemon tart this week.

I'd love to see the recipe for that arugula and walnut pesto! That sounds absolutely delicious.

Maria said...

Love the soup! Check out my blog, I made mushroom barley soup and roasted sweet potatoes with agave this week: www.twopeasandtheirpod.com

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh!! i need to make that pesto!! and all soup looks soo good to me these days! yum!

BroccoliHut said...

As a total chickpea FANATIC, I am so bookmarking this recipe. Thanks, girl!

Angelalovesfood said...

I've never had chorizo, only because my high school history teacher scared me into eating it :)

That is my ideal pasta I'd like to eat on days where I'd want to keep it light, looks great!

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

sounds SO good! I love soup for dunking :) and eating right up and yes I will slup at the end too!!!

YUMMMYYY

Julie said...

oh it's so the perfect time of the year for soup :) i think it looks like the perfect soup for scoopers haha. i'm dreaming of all the things you could scoop in there.

that walnut pesto sauce looks so good! i've been waiting to make a pesto sauce and had all the basil ready only to go in the drawer and find out it went bad. oh fail.

enjoy the weekend girrrrl!

Anonymous said...

The pesto look soooooo good!

bhealthier said...

hmm that pasta looks divine, pesto is just so delicious!

Love the bacon added to the vegan soup ;-) so yummy and warm I bet!

Hey I'm running in the bridge run in march! are you?

Deirdre said...

You always make such a good wide variety of foods. Josh is very lucky!

Its not a recipe but with some leftover wheat pasta I added 2 wedges of Laughing Cow lite cheese and realized you could make mac & cheese without all the fat and calories. I added some spinach and it was AMAZING.

Anonymous said...

Okay, two dishes to add to my list of things to make!

Okay, this recipe is for Josh, sorry its not vegetarian - but so few ingrients with lots of WOW flavor. Thai Basil Chicken in Baked Wonton Cups - or my new favorite lunch!

http://biz319.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/7-things/

Anonymous said...

Love chickpeas, looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!

teresa said...

i have a ton of chickpeas, and love them, but never quite know what to do with them. i can't wait to try that soup. have a wonderful weekend!

The Blonde Duck said...

I've heard chickpeas are awesome!

Unknown said...

Chickpeas and cashew cream make such a rich and creamy soup,love to try this soon :D

Diana @ frontyardfoodie said...

Wow, I love the idea of chickpea soup sort of like split pea soup! A childhood favorite of mine:)

I'll go with the vegan option and maybe top it off with something like pita crumbles....

Kerstin said...

Mmm, what a yummy soup - love the cashew cream in it! Hope you have a great weekend!

chrystad72 said...

oh yum! This looks so awesome. I love all the flavor combinations that you have going on. I hope you are having one amazing day so far! Take care sweetie!

Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home said...

I LOVE arugula pesto. I also make one from Giada's first book with baby spinach and lemon. I love your chickpea soup. I've only made soups with whole chickpeas... never pureed. Happy New Year :)

Lori said...

Yum, I'm bookmarking this soup. Like a soup version of hummus in a way. It sounds so great!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Yum I want to try some of that chickpea soup! Glad you got to make your first pesto. I always try to keep some in the freezer and lately it's been walnut arugula pesto too!

I think my favorite meal this week so far was salmon that I baked. We had so much left over I got to use it in amazing salads which was spectacular.

Pam said...

Wow..great looking soup! Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Bee Happy!

Mom on the Run said...

Great soup recipe! I think I might make that for my soup of the week. I have been bring soup and veggies for lunch and it is so filling.

I made some good eats over at Mom on the Run. I made a Carrot Ginger soup that was very tasty.

Alisa - Frugal Foodie said...

Chickpea soup everywhere this week! That looks great.

Deva (Voracious Vorilee) said...

That looks delicious! This week I made the Martha's Mac and Cheese recipe off of Smittenkitchen.com - it's sooo good and you can eat off of 1/2 of a recipe for days!

jodie said...

I just love your recipes.:)

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh - creamy chickpea soup!? for real!? now that sounds gosh darn amazing!

veron said...

a chickpea soup. Love tis. And walnut pesto sounds just as awesome!

Rose said...

chickpea soup??? I may be in heaven.

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Looks like you've been cooking up quite a few good concoctions--I need to start soon :-)