Mixed Vegetable Soup

V's aunt is visiting. I was going to make an easy salad, but the weather was rainy and yucky in the morning. So, she offered to make a hot soup for lunc. And we never say 'no' to her cooking and definitely not soup. Usually, she just adds vegetables and beans with a variety of spices to conjure up a delicious delight. Today, I watched her and was her assistant. So, I got to see some of the magic! Here is my memory of what I saw her do this afternoon!Everything that she cooks is by taste and adding a few things here and there. So, you would have to taste this at regular times and add spices according to your taste. My brother also asked for some more soup recipes, so I hope he'll be happy with this.
Some variations include - adding sweet potato, adding navy beans, kidney beans or other white beans, adding TVP, adding coarsely chopped kale or chard at the end. Another option is to remove a little bit of soup, purree it and return it to the big pot for a different consistency and flavor!





Mixed Vegetable Soup

Ingredients
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Red Pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 Onion, chopped
2 Stalks Celery, chopped
2 Carrots, chopped
1/2 C Frozen Peas
1/2 C Frozen Edemame
4 C Vegetable Broth (We used Pacific)
Salt, to taste
2 Cloves Garlic, chopped fine
2 T Soy Sauce
1.5 C Garbanzo Beans, cooked
1.5 C Black Beans, cooked
1 15 oz Can Tomatoes
1 T Sugar (we used Turbinado)
2 T Oregano, dried
1 T Thyme, dried
2 T Cilantro
2 T lemon/lime juice

In a soup pot, add olive oil and red pepper flakes. After a couple of minutes, add onions and cook till they are softened. Add celery and carrot and let the vegetables soften. Add peas, edemame, garlic and salt. Cook for 4-5 more minutes.
Add the broth, cover and bring to a boil. Add both kinds of beans and let it boil again.
Add the can of tomatoes, Soy sauce and sugar. Add water to make it the consistency you like. Cook for 5 minutes and taste to make sure that all the flavors have mixed together and for salt, spice and acidity.
Add Oregano, thyme and lemon juice and mix together. Add cilantro.
Serve hot!