Citrine's Signature Soup!

Temps are dropping and my favorite way to keep warm is with a delicious bowl of soup! This year I've been creating my own simple broth that I think you'll LOVE! It's simple... fresh Lemon Grass!  Lets get started with a list of ingredients and seasonings!

• Onion - any kind! Whatever kind you prefer
• Celery
• Carrot
• Green Beans
• Yellow Peppers
• Shiitake Mushrooms

Additional ingredients!

• - Cabbage
• - Broccoli/Broccolini
• - Potato
• - Ginger
• - Chicken
• - Beef
• - Lentils
• - Orzo

Seasonings & Herbs

• One Lemon
• Fresh Lemon Grass
• Garlic
• Rosemary
• Cumin
• Himalayan Sea Salt
• Black Pepper
  

When finished prepping the soup I like to top it with Grated Parmesan. Some times a squeeze of lemon juice. I also like a little crunch while eating soup. You can add Croutons, Tortilla Chips, Crackers, Bread, whatever works for you!

Begin your soup by selecting your ingredients. Get creative - you can literally add anything! Yum! Once all your produce is washed sort it by how long it takes to cook. You’ll want to cut the veggies that take longer to cook first! Don't forget to wash your veggies! You never know where they've been before you purchased them.

Before you cut any veggies, take your lemon grass and break it into bits. This releases the flavor. Fill a small pot with the lemon grass bits and water. Put in stove with low heat. Make sure to cover. This is going to be your soup base.

Start with onion. Dice your onions then put them in your soup pot with olive oil. Turn heat on low and cover. (We are going to season as we cut up other veggies.) Keep an eye on your lemon grass broth. If it starts to boil, turn the heat OFF. You don't want the freshness of your lemon grass flavor to cook out. Keep covered.

Next cut up your celery, add to your pot, sprinkle in salt, stir then cover again. Move onto cut up your carrots. You can get shredded carrots or shred your carrots if you prefer. Add to carrots your soup mixture with a dash of rosemary, stir them cover again. Now it's time to cut up your green beans. Add to your pot with Cumin, stir and cover. If you’re adding potato, cabbage, or broccoli/broccolini, this is the time to cut those up and add them into the mix. Stir. Keep heat LOW and pot covered.

If you’re adding orzo 0r lentils - add them now. Turn heat off your lemon grass broth if you have not already. Next you’ll cut up your shiitake mushrooms and peppers. You can use any kind of peppers. You could even use a variety of peppers if you like. I usually go for cubanelle or poblano. For this example I used one yellow pepper. Once mushrooms and peppers are cut up add them to your soup pot, stir and cover.

Time for garlic. I used 4 cloves. You can use a shredder or cut up with a knife. Don’t forget to smash the garlic cloves to release the flavor! Add garlic to your veggie mix, stir, and cover. Time to add lemon zest. Zest a lemon directly into your mix, stir then cover. Now it’s time to add your lemon grass broth to your veggies! If you want more broth refill the pot with water and add heat again. Once boiling you can then turn heat off and add the second pot of lemon grass broth to your soup! If your adding meat now is the time to prepare that! Once it’s all cooked up, mix into your soup! Wah lah!

Serve! Add crackers or croutons or cheese! Have fun and enjoy!