Soupy Sundays: Lasagna Soup

It’s holiday time… yeah!!! You’re decorating, baking, shopping, running around like a chicken with your head cut off… you don’t have time to slave all day for a yummy lasagna.  But you do have time for a quick, easy, and delicious fake out in soup form.

Similar to goulash, this soup makes a lot, reheats well, and is so hearty that you’ll be good and full for a long day of holiday madness.

My version is a happy little melding of Paula Dean’s and A Farmgirl’s Dabbles.

I know you’ll love it!

Lasagna Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound ground chuck

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon thyme

2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 32-ounce can, chicken broth

1 28-ounce can, fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

2 cups broken lasagna noodles

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cheese Surprise (recipe follows)

Garlic Crostini (recipe follows)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.   Add onions, garlic and green pepper, cooking until soft, about five minutes.  Add beef and cook until browned, about five minutes.  Drain fat from the pan.

Add red pepper, thyme, oregano, tomato paste, brown sugar, salt and pepper, cook for 1 minute.

Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add noodles, and simmer until noodles are tender. Stir in Parmesan cheese and basil.

To serve, place a dollop of the cheese surprise in each soup bowl, add soup and crostini, sprinkle a handful of mozzarella on top.

Preheat broiler.  Broil soups, 6-inches from heat, 3 to 4 minutes, until cheese is browned and bubbly.

Cheese Surprise

Ingredients:

8 ounces ricotta

1/2  cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch of freshly ground pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

Garlic Crostini

Ingredients:

1 French baguette

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves smashed garlic

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut bread into 1/4-inch round slices. Place on baking sheet and brush each slice with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper; place in oven and bake until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Rub each side with smashed garlic cloves.