Food and drink Summer Salad Soup Serves 4 2 tbsp. olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ onion, chopped 1 cup of chopped kale 1 cup of chopped radicchio 1 cup of chopped tomato (different colours) ½ cup of sliced Brussels sprouts 4 cups of chicken stock 2 cups of cubed cooked chicken 1 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano 1 cup of cooked pasta (gluten-free) Parmigiano-Reggiano (for garnish) Preparation as described in the article. Suggested wine This is a delicate, but highly flavourful soup. The natural acidity from the tomatoes comes through in the broth, calling for more acidity in a wine. The saltiness from the cheese also nicely harmonizes with zesty acidity in wine. I suggest that you pair this salad soup with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Italian Pinot Grigio. Both wines have a backbone of acidity to harmonize with this soup. While researching this topic, I discovered that salad soups are quite popular. Lettuce soup is the more popular name. I didn’t know this. But it certainly makes sense. Lettuce seems like such a simple ingredient. Many varieties, however, are packed with nutrition. Romaine lettuce, for example, has zero fat, low calories (12 calories per cup) and is high in fibre to improve digestion. Its vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This helps to prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Romaine lettuce also has a two-to-one ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 and is a good source of vegetarian protein. Lettuce is a rich source of vitamin A, which revitalizes the skin, all the while helping in the removal of toxins from the body. When considering lettuces for your salads and soups, choose red, green and darkly coloured ones over white varieties, such as iceberg. Other salad soups include: ▶▶ Chilled lettuce and radish soup with fresh thyme ▶▶ Chinese-style stir-fried lettuce soup with a dash of dry sherry, sesame oil and chili flakes ▶▶ Cream of boston lettuce soup with chives, tarragon and parsley ▶▶ Lettuce and pea soup ▶▶ Minted boston lettuce soup ▶▶ Romaine lettuce soup with croutons ▶▶ Wilted salad of greens soup with crème fraiche ▶▶ Lettuce and guacamole soup ▶▶ Green gazpacho CSANews | SUMMER 2016 | 43
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