Stone Soup Recipe
Introduction
Stone soup is a simple and hearty dish that has its roots in folklore. The story goes that travelers, arriving in a village with no food, would make a pot of soup with just a stone and water. As they cook the soup, they would ask the villagers to contribute ingredients, turning a seemingly meager meal into a flavorful and satisfying dish. This recipe allows you to recreate this heartwarming tale in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
– 1 large stone (cleaned and sterilized)
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
– 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
– 2 celery stalks, sliced
– 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
– 1 bay leaf
– 1 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
– ½ teaspoon black pepper
– 6 cups vegetable broth
– 1 can diced tomatoes (14 ounces)
– 1 cup pasta of your choice
– Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions and minced garlic, sauté until fragrant and translucent.
2. Add the carrots, potatoes, celery, green beans, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir well to combine the ingredients.
3. Pour in the vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Stir again and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Add the cleaned stone to the pot. This is the symbolic stone that gives the soup its name and story. Make sure the stone has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before using it.
5. Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
6. After 30 minutes, remove the stone from the pot. Discard it and add the pasta. Cook according to the package instructions until the pasta is al dente.
7. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
8. Serve the stone soup in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Estimated Time and Serving
This stone soup recipe takes approximately 1 hour to prepare and cook. It yields about 6 servings, making it perfect for a family meal or for leftovers throughout the week. The recipe can easily be doubled or halved depending on your needs. So gather your ingredients and enjoy this heartwarming soup with your loved ones!