Ideas on how to use "Ancient Grains" in a soup ?

August 15, 2023 4:58 PM

I recently bought a packet of "Ancient Grains Soup Mix" and I'd like some (veggie) soup recipes suggestions.

The blurb says "Vegetarian and fibre-rich it makes delicious, hearty meals simply by cooking in water or broth and added with your favourite vegetables." but I'm not sure what would be suitable vegetables to use so I'd appreciate recipes/suggestions.

The ingredients are listed as French Green Lentils, Quinoa, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Red Split Lentils, Sundried Tomatoes and White Rice

Doesn't have to be vegan but I would prefer no meat/fish. Thanks.

posted by southof40 to Food & Drink (5 answers total)

I would do this in the style of 'vegetable beef and barley soup' but without the beef. So: carrot, onion, celery in roughly equal parts, plus some peas. Season with salt, black pepper, thyme, parsley. Maybe some paprika or garlic powder. Potatoes are often used but your lentils and rice should cover that. You could add a can of diced tomatoes or fresh if you want to go that way.

This is a hard base to go wrong with, enjoy!
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:04 PM on August 15, 2023 [4 favorites]

I would probably fry some onion, put in a can of tomatoes, some broth and some smoked paprika and then cook the grains in that. If I had carrot I might add it too. But I tend to like tomato and something smokey with my lentils. It says the mix has sundried tomato, but I think sundried tomato and regular tomato go well together.
posted by ice-cream forever at 7:07 PM on August 15, 2023

For one cup of soup mix, finely dice 1 medium onion, 1 medium carrot, 1 stick of celery and one medium potato. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil. When the onions are translucent - not brown at all - add one or two cloves of crushed garlic, and stir till the garlic aroma comes out. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste and stir till the tomato changes color and aroma slightly.

Add the soup mix and let it absorb the oil before adding 1 cup of water or vegetable stock. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and oregano. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure there is enough liquid, I feel the amount described on the package is quite a bit on the too little side, but I can't say without trying. After 30 mins, adjust the seasoning and liquid to taste, then let it cook ten minutes more so the tastes meld completely.
posted by mumimor at 8:17 PM on August 15, 2023

My go to, for soup mix soup. The pre-soaking overnight helps this one a lot.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (125ml) dried soup mix – Pre-soaked overnight.
- 1/2 white onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 large carrot, coarsely grated
- 250ml boiling water
- 1 tsp stock powder (1 cube)
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Coriander
- 1/2 tsp dried ginger
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Finely Grated Cheese and/or Nutritional Yeast Flakes (both optional)

Serves 2

Pre-soak the dried soup mix overnight, in fresh water (boiled then cooled)

Method:
1) Fry until golden, the finely diced onion, in the oil, add the garlic towards the end of frying.
2) Add the salt & pepper, then coarsely grated carrot and fry off a little more
3) Drain and rinse the now soaked ‘soup mix’.
4) Add the rehydrated soup mix to the pan.
5) Add boiling water, stock powder, and freshly roasted and then ground spices.
6) Simmer for around 15-20 minutes.
7) Blend/pulverise around half of the soup.
8) Add a tablespoon more Extra Virgin Olive Oil and mix through the soup.
9) Serve immediately, with the optional freshly grated cheese and/or yeast flakes.
posted by many-things at 12:06 AM on August 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yeah, a basic mirepoix of carrot/celery/onion plus potato would be the way to go. Or - it's got lentils so think about what you've usually seen in "lentil soup" - stuff like carrot/celery/onion, potato, bits of string bean. Think late-summer veg.

(And I have to add a bit of a pedantic observation that "what the hell, lentils are not grains!")
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:54 AM on August 16, 2023 [2 favorites]