I don’t know about you, but I have put on a few pounds since the Christmas season.  December was a month of lots of baking and gifting AND tasting, maybe more than a taste.  I really can’t afford to put on any more  pounds.  So, I’m looking at some tried and true recipes that have less calories.

I love soup.  Do you?  The only soup I had growing up was Campbell’s Chicken Noodle and Cream of Mushroom.  My mom would only eat the latter.  You see, my grandmother, who lived to 96 years old and died an accidental death, had soup every day.  Grandmother would have a stew-like soup called “Puchero”.  She would separate the broth from the meat and vegetables.  With the broth, she would add some pasta and make soup for the first course.  The meat and veggies were served as the second course.  Since, grandmother had the same lunch every day, Mom developed a dislike to soup.  Not me, I love it.

I’d like to share this soup recipe with you.  It has few calories and little fat. This is fast and easy.  I adapted it from a Susan Sommers’ recipe called “Oriental Turkey Meatball Soup”. I used homemade broth with very little salt added.  Be careful with the broth you use.  It may already contain lots of sodium.  So, watch the soy sauce.  I’ll give you my homemade broth recipe soon.

 

Ingredients

6 cups Chicken Broth

1 lb. Ground Turkey

2 finely chopped Celery Stalks

5 slices peeled fresh Ginger

2 Tbl. Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp. Hot Chili Oil

2 heads Baby Bok Choy

1 -2 Green Onions

Bring the broth to boil in a large saucepan.  Meanwhile, chop only the greens of the Green Onion.  Add the Green Onion to the Turkey.  Mix with your hands and make 1 inch meatballs.

When the broth boils, add the Turkey meatballs, Celery, Ginger, Soy Sauce, and Chili Oil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Then add the Bok Choy for 5 more minutes.  I cut the Bok Choy in fourths because they were a little large.  Usually, they can be cut in half.

 

Add more Soy Sauce and/or Chili Oil to taste.  Have you been reading all the articles about those people who like cilantro and those who hate it?  Well, I love cilantro.  My daughter hates it.  I topped my bowl with some cilantro leaves…YUM.  (Optional, of course.)

Serves 4, each at  225 Calories, 3.4 grams Fat, 1.3 grams Carbs, 35 grams Protein.

I fix this soup usually for lunch and don’t always have music on.  Once I get everything in the pot, I go and finish my chores until it’s ready.

Soup’s on!