Monday, March 4, 2013

Fake Chicken Noodle Soup

I haven't been feeling very well lately so I decided to try out a new recipe. I got my regular Fake Meats email a few weeks ago with a recipe for "chicken" noodle soup. I had been just dying to try it. I picked up some organic carrots and celery (I don't normally buy organic but celery is on the "dirty dozen list for using 5 different types of pesticides. Yes, 5.) and some whole wheat pasta. In order to complete the recipe, I needed to place an order with Fake Meats for the Seitenbacher vegetable broth and some soy curls.
Chris and I don't like the crunch of an onion so I kept the onions whole. I let them cook and simmer with the soup but pulled them out before serving. We frequently do this as I like the flavor that onions add to a dish, but we just hate biting into a crunchy chunk.

I really like this recipe because it is basically just a "dump everything in the pot and stir." I mean, is there any better cooking techniques?
I couldn't find my recipe card, but there is a video explaining the recipe that I followed along with. The instructions were simple, clear, and helpful. (If you're part of the Fake Meats meal plan, you get ingredients and recipes delivered to your door monthly.)

After letting the soup simmer for the recommended 10 minutes, I checked the pasta and it needed just a little more time (maybe because it was whole wheat versus regular).
Either way, the kitchen smelled amazing just like homemade soup (well, because it is!). All of the ingredients are vegan but I don't think my vegetarian husband has had chicken noodle soup since he was about 14 years old! Haha. I really enjoyed making this and the recipe made a ton of food. We put some in the fridge and the rest in the freezer to save for another cold or rainy day. (It probably made about 5 portions.)

Since we aren't a vegan household, we had to serve up the soup the soup with some fresh French bread from Whole Foods. I must agree with Kelsey that bread makes everything better. And gluten.


Full Recipe:

Ingredients:
8 oz (half the bag shown) of uncooked pasta
1/2 bag of soy curls
1 packet of vegetable broth seasoning
8 cups of water
1 chopped onion
1 cup of celery
1 cup of carrots

Bring water to a boil first, then add in broth seasoning and stir. Afterwards, add all of the other ingredients and stir it up real good. Bring the mixture back up to a boil before turning it down to simmer with the lid on for about 10 minutes (or until pasta is cooked through). Serve up and enjoy! Yields about 5-7 portions.


10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the write-up! I am happy you enjoyed it! I love how simple this recipe is too. And that you can kind of throw in (or take out, ha ha!) whatever veggies you like! :) I have a really hard time not going back for more when we make this. It's such a feel good dish! :)

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  2. Looks yummy, and by your expression in the last picture, it probably was! I might substitute chunks of chicken for the soy curls, however. (Joking! :-)

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  3. I really love the simplicity and diversity of this recipe. I'm sure you could throw in some other vegetables in there if you wanted. It was so yummy! I appreciate you guys sharing the recipe!

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  4. Haha, yes. This is just a nice alternative for those that don't eat meat.

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  5. I wanna make this tonight! But -- what are "soy curls"? Could I use something else instead? Tempeh/tofu/seitan?

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  6. I'm sure you could try something else instead! I would probably pre-sear tofu first though, just so it doesn't start totally coming apart when its cooking. Soy Curls are something that is dehydrated so "cooking" it in the broth rehydrates it with brothy goodness. I picked up my soy curls from the FakeMeats website.
    http://www.fakemeats.com/Butler_Soy_Curls_8_oz_Bag_p/bf-soycurls.htm

    Let me know if you make it and how the modifications taste!

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  7. Looks delish! I need to try this! Also, sure hope you feel better soon!

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  8. wait, french bread isn't vegan?? Either way, that looks super yummy - hope you feel better soon! :)

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  9. Haha, I assume it isn't. Maybe it is? I didn't look at the ingredient label before chowing down.

    Thanks!

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