Turnpike Soup Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep saute pan until shimmering.
• Add turnips, then onion; saute, stirring very little at first, then more frequently, until vegetables start to turn golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add butter, sugar and garlic; continue cooking until all vegetables are a rich spotty caramel color, about 10 minutes longer.
• Add paprika, thyme and cayenne pepper; continue to saute until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute longer.
• Add broth; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until turnips are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender or traditional blender, puree until very smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. (If using a traditional blender, vent it either by removing the lid's pop-out center or by lifting one edge of the lid. Drape the blender canister with a kitchen towel. To 'clean' the canister, pour in a little half-and-half, blend briefly, then add to the soup.)
• Return to pan (or a soup pot); add enough half-and-half so the mixture is souplike, yet thick enough to float garnish. Taste, and add salt and pepper if needed. Heat through, ladle into bowls, garnish and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir kielbasa and onion in the hot oil until the onion is tender, 5 to 7 minutes; set aside.
• Stir chicken broth, turnip greens, great Northern beans, vegetable soup mix, hot pepper sauce, garlic powder, Creole seasoning, salt, and black pepper together in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir kielbasa mixture into the boiling broth mixture, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer for 2 hours.

Steps:

• When you are preparing the artichokes, drop them into water with a bit of lemon juice or vinegar as you go so they don't discolour. Drain before adding to the recipe later.
• Start the soup by sauteing the onions in the oil for a couple minutes.
• Add the turnips and artichokes. Fry for 3 - 4 minutes, then put the lid on and sweat for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice to avoid sticking.
• You may need to add 1/4 cup water if things start to stick to the pot.
• Rinse the lentils in a sieve then add to the vegetables with the stock. Stir well and bring to the boil.
• Boil for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Simmer for about 25 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf.
• Liquidise if preferred, then season to taste.

Steps:

• Peel the turnips (thickly, if they are large and mature) and slice them into rounds about 1/4 inch thick. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil; then add 2 teaspoons salt and the turnips. Cover the pot and cook for 1 minute; then drain.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a soup pot with 1/2 cup water. Add the leeks, the blanched turnips, the thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stew them, covered, over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, and then add the milk. Slowly heat it without bringing it to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the turnips are completely tender.
• Cool the soup briefly; then purée it in a blender. If necessary, thin it with additional milk or water. Season to taste with salt, if needed, and freshly ground pepper.
• Sort through the turnip greens and remove any that are bruised or especially tough looking, and wash them. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan, add the turnip greens, and cook them over medium heat until they are tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the cooked greens to a cutting board and chop them, roughly or fine, as you prefer; then add them to the soup and serve. Or garnish with fresh chopped thyme.

Steps:

• Dice celery, carrots, onion, potatoes and bell pepper into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Chop tomatoes; reserve all juice.
• Place vegetables, tomatoes with their juice, chicken pieces, parsley and garlic in a 10-quart stockpot.
• Add water. Season with salt and pepper.
• Slowly bring soup to a boil over low heat.
• Skim off foam that rises to the surface; may have to skim 2 or 3 times.
• Partially cover pot and simmer 2 hours.
• When soup is finished, remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, mash vegetables in the bottom of the pot with the back side of a large cooking spoon or a potato masher.
• When chicken has cooled enough to handle, remove skin and bones and return meat to soup.
• Notes: Soup is best served the day after it is made. Refrigerate and remove fat that solidifies on the surface of the soup. Serve soup with rice or small, stubby pasta. For better flavor, cook the rice or pasta in the soup when reheating. Add freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, if desired.