Swamp Soup

Smoky kielbasa, loads of tender vegetables, and abundant “swampy” looking greens make this simple Swamp Soup a deliciously healthy and substantial meal. It may not be the prettiest soup on the block, but it sure tastes amazing!

Swamp Soup

They say soup season is upon us; I say it’s always soup season in my world. This recipe is for a soup so robust, hearty, and nourishing that it qualifies as a meal all by itself.

Swamp soup is not a very appealing name, admittedly. The name comes from the abundant greens that are floating in the soup. Oddly, though, the more overtly gross the name of a recipe, the more willing my kids were to try it.

But while it won’t win any beauty contests, it isn’t hideous. The name leads you to believe it will be yucky when in fact it is delicious and heart-warming. It’s also incredibly easy to make. Win win!

It’s so easy to make, in fact, that I did it one handed while cuddling with my sweet newborn nephew, Giuseppe. Well, okay; it was mostly one handed. I did put him down long enough to cut the vegetables and aromatics. The rest was done with a baby on the hip.

Swamp Soup Recipe

I’m a sucker for a recipe that tastes like you spent hours simmering it when you did no such thing. This is just such a recipe.

How do we get that “slow simmered” flavour without the time commitment? We build it by sauteeing the piles of fresh vegetables and aromatics to develop some complexity and depth. Then we take a little helping hand from creamy and tender canned navy beans and canned, seasoned black eyed peas and slow-cooked greens.

Combining the fresh vegetables with the hearty canned beans and greens with a herbs and spices in a light tomato broth gives you a deep, soulful soup that stands alone. This wholesome soup doesn’t really need anything with it, but it positively sings with a side of warm, buttery cornbread or crusty bread and a quick salad.

There really isn’t anything quite as comforting as wrapping your hands around a warm bowl of homemade soup. If you really want to gild the lily, though, whip up a Rosemary Cocktail and a quick French Yogurt Cake to round out your meal.

Soup Recipes

If you’re looking to add more soups to your rotation, you are in the right place. Here is a handful of my favourite soups and stews from here on Foodie with Family.

This lasagna soup recipe is for when you’re craving lasagna but don’t want the prep work involved with assembling a whole lasagna. Rich with Italian herbs and seasonings, with a generous amount of cheese, this soup has a definite authentic lasagna taste!

Tender chicken in a flavorful spicy broth is what makes Caldo de Pollo so very good. It’s comforting for the mind, body, and soul. Super smooth, ultra Creamy Tomato Basil Soup is both the best and easiest way to make soup from fresh tomatoes. You’re going to love this so much, you’ll want to double, triple or even quadruple the recipe to keep on hand in the freezer long after summer and fresh tomatoes are a pleasant memory.

Salmon Soup is a light fish chowder in a creamy broth strewn with fresh dill that still manages to be substantial by virtue of hearty potatoes, carrots, leeks, and bite sized chunks of salmon. It’s comforting enough to warm you from the inside out during cold winter days, but delicious and light enough to see you through last minute meals year round.

Lentil stew is full of tender lentils, ham, carrots, celery, in a hearty tomato broth so thick it is almost fork-able. Beef Curry Stew is filled with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, & onions. All this is in a flavourful gravy made with soul-warming curry spices.

It’s hearty and thick! Soft black beans, fragrant garlic, sweet bell peppers, and tiny tender cubes of roasted sweet potato are all suspended in a thick tomato broth in this vegetarian Black Bean Stew.