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Miso Hungry!

The options are unlimited when it comes to vegetarian soup options. For something with a little more of an international flavor, try a Japanese classic like Miso soup. As light as this soup is, it will leave any belly feeling satisfied. To whip up your own, follow the recipe below:

Begin by cutting the tofu into ? inch-thick slices. Place the slices between napkins or paper towels and place between two heavy objects (like plates or pans). Allow the tofu to drain for about 30 minutes. Bring 2 cups of water to a simmer in a small saucepan and add the mushrooms. Allow to simmer for about 2 minutes before removing from the heat. Let the mushrooms soak for 15 minutes more. Next, bring the carrots and broth to a boil on high heat in a large pot.

Then, lower the heat to medium and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Take the mushrooms out of the water and strain the water into the carrots and broth mixture. Slice the mushrooms into thin pieces and add to the pot. Add the bok choy and pepper as well and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Cut the tofu up into tiny cubes. Take ? cup of the broth and stir it in a separate bowl with the miso paste, until smooth. Put the new mixture back into the pot, throw in the tofu, and lower heat to medium-low. Cook for about 3 more minutes then serve with green onion, sesame oil, and sesame seeds as garnishes.

Soup in a Rush

Are you in the mood for some tummy-warming vegetarian soup but don¡¯t have the time to make it from scratch? There are plenty of options available that won¡¯t take you hours to prepare. Almost any large grocery store should have a fair selection of prepackaged soup cups and mixes on the shelf. And, companies like Fantastic Foods (www.fantasticfoods.com) have many soup mix selections available to order online. Some of the flavors include:

Rest assured you can enjoy delicious vegetarian soup anytime you want without the wait.

Split Pea Sans Meat

Split pea soup is a delicious, well-known soul food that is a favorite to many. The traditional version of the soup has a meat base and is infused with a ham bone. The soup itself, however, is so delicious that it can stand alone sans meat. Try this amazing version that¡¯s yummy enough to please any vegetarian (or non-vegetarian):

In a 3-quart saucepan, combine water, peas, onions, parsnips, carrots, celery flakes and rosemary and bring the entire mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Next, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally two hours (the mixture should be thick and the water should be completely absorbed). While the mixture is simmering, warm oil in a frying pan over medium heat and add the bread, caraway seeds and mustard. Saut¨¦ these items for 5 minutes (the croutons should be golden in color). Set aside. Add the milk to the split pea mixture and stir until blended. Simmer all ingredients 10 minutes, or until completely heated. Use croutons as a garnish when serving.

Fill up on the Green Stuff

If you¡¯re a fellow veggie lover then you can¡¯t get enough of the stuff. There are countless vegetarian soup recipes out there but few are jam-packed with as many vegetables as vegetarian vegetable soup. If you want to get way more than your fix of vegetables and have leftovers to spare, try this fabulous recipe:

In a large pot, saut¨¦ the onion and celery in olive oil until the onions are clear. Toss all of the vegetables in the water. Next, add seasonings and bring the entire mixture to a rolling boil. Then, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for about 2 hours (vegetables should be tender).

Give Vegetarian Soup Depth

Due to the absence of a strong meat base, many vegetarians worry that they won¡¯t be able to pack enough flavor into their vegetarian soup. The truth is, however, that it is easy to make flavorful meatless soups that everyone can enjoy. Some great tricks are to use seasoning packets or salad dressing mixes but there are some really great vegetarian soup mixes that you can pick up at your local grocery store. If you want to make your own soup base to add more depth and flavor, this is a wonderful basic stock that you can use instead of water in almost any vegetable soup to really give in a bold taste:

Put all of the ingredients into a big soup pot and bring to a simmer. Then, simmer the concoction gently, covered, over low heat for about 45 minutes, or until the vegetables tender enough. Finally, strain the stock through 3 or 4 layers of cheesecloth.

Office Dash for Lunch

Mealtime doesn't have to be a big production! We all lead busy lives and sometimes it's hard to get a fast, low fat meal at a reasonable price. You've been through it, the lunch time dash for something good to eat. How can you get a cheap and quick vegetarian meal without paying high prices at some over-priced restaurant? The trick is to hit the grocery store and stock up on smart lunch options to keep at the office. Opt for something simple that doesn't have to be refrigerated and doen't have elaborate cooking instructions. Need some suggestions? Try some low carb soup cups or a simple soup mix (you need only add water).

Some Fat is Good

The key to a great vegetarian soup recipe is to add oil. Even if you are someone who typically leans towards dishes that are low in fat, it does your body good as the fats assist in creating a healthy, working metabolism. In addition, that oil will drastically enhance any soup's flavor. Be sure to use an oil that will be liquid at room temperature, (olive oil, vegetable oil, or grape seed oil). As you probably know, salt is an important ingredient in many dishes (a healthier option is sea salt). Any kind of salt will do wonders for the flavor of most foods. It's important, however, to add salt to a dish while it is cooking rather than adding it after the dish is finished to taste (this will make a huge difference in the final result).

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