Making Soup in the Slow Cooker

There is nothing as comforting as a hot bowl of homemade soup. It warms your belly, making you feel content and cared for. Many consider making soup from scratch to be intimidating, but it is really very easy once you have given it a try. When you use your slow cooker, it is even easier.

Soups for the Slow Cooker

You can make almost any kind of soup in a slow cooker. From simple fare like lentil soup or vegetable beef to fancier fare like vichyssoise or cream of sweet potato soup, your slow cooker is your best tool for making soup. Even delicate soups like crab soup or trout chowder can easily be made to perfection while you are away. Ethnic soups like Italian Wedding soup and Indian Dal can be simmering while you take care of other business.

It does not matter what your favorite is, you can make it in your slow cooker. Use leftovers or fresh ingredients. If you have a little ham, add it to some navy beans for a delicious bean soup. Likewise, you could add split yellow or green peas and make a wonderful pea soup.

Even soups that seem more complicated, like cheddar cheese or clam chowder, can easily be made in your slow cooker. Whether it is something simple like chicken soup or more complicated, you can make all your favorite soups. Use your favorite ingredients like noodles, dumplings or rice… whichever you prefer.

Something New

Maybe you will want to try a soup you have never tasted before. Trying new dishes is fun! Take a chance and try a new slow cooker soup. Have you ever tried a taco soup? What about cheesy meatball soup or deviled chicken soup? Ever tried a garden cabbage soup? There are many different soups out there just waiting to become your new favorite!

With a little inspiration, you can create your own slow cooker soup recipes. Why not give it a try? The slow cooker lets you make a few mistakes. It will tenderize a tough piece of meat. Adding different vegetables and herbs add a delicious, complex flavor to your soup. If you like a creamy soup, add some milk or cream towards the end of your cooking time. Let your imagination run wild.

Traditional soups like chicken noodle, vegetable beef and chicken and dumplings always taste good, too. If you want to try something slightly different, tweak the ingredients. Maybe you would like to try a nice pork stew or turkey and dumplings. Tweaking your favorites can be fun.

You can even press your slow cooker into service after the holidays to make your day after easier. Add leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to the slow cooker to make a delicious turkey soup. Add rice, potatoes, or noodles, whichever you like best. Add in leftover vegetables like peas, squash, carrots, or leftover gravy. You will end up with a new way to enjoy the fruits of your labors from before the big day. Slow cookers are a great way to use up these leftover goodies.

Soup recipes can be simple or elaborate. Depending on the type of soup you want to make, you may need a list of ingredients a mile long, or one that just contains a few key items. The results you get are always delicious and soothing. Try making a soup this week!