Low Carb Cooking: Soups

Low Carb eating can be satisfying and should include a variety of foods. During the warm days of summer I find we have so many things we want to do that standing in the kitchen preparing something to eat isn't always on the list. Don't get me wrong, I still love to eat a nice home-cooked meal during the summer. I just like to get my cooking over with quicker in the summer so I can get back to other activities. One of my favorite meals to prepare during the summer is low carb soup, for a more hearty meal add a sandwich.

I personally like garden vegetable soup. Vegetables do have carbohydrates along with fiber and vitamins that your body needs. You should have a variety of vegetables in your low carb diet. Remember portion sizes and enjoy a melody of flavors. Homemade soup packed with fresh vegetables from your garden make your low carb meal even more satisfying. If you don't have a garden your local fresh produce stand should have a variety of delicious veggies perfect for your soup. The fresher the ingredients the more flavorful your soup will be.

The best soup, low carb or otherwise, needs a flavorful stock. I have used both chicken stock or vegetable stock in my soups. I love both. You can buy prepared stock in cans and in cartons with easy open/close tabs. I love these because I can use what I want and put the rest in the fridge. If you don't have stock you can use chicken bullion base and water, this makes great soup (and tastes like you have been working on it for hours).

Once you have your stock and your vegetables gathered wash and pare your vegetables. Cut veggies into bite sized pieces. If you are planning on adding meat cut it into bite sized pieces also.

When preparing your low carb soup there are a few different ways to choose from. You can start early in the day and let it simmer all day on your stove top. You can put your low carb soup in a crock pot to simmer all day. Both of those choices increase your chances of heating up your home, something I try to avoid in the summer. When I am making my low carb soup I prefer to wait and make it just before my family plans on eating it.