Harvest Grains Vegetable Soup (...and a pop quiz!)
Harvest Grains is a Trader Joe's bagged combination of Israeli couscous (also known as pearl couscous), red quinoa, baby garbanzo beans, and orzo. At my store, it's near the pasta and rice. It's a wonderful, quick cooking pilaf that you can use in place of rice. It also makes a wonderful and satisfying soup that you can customize with your own blend of vegetables. The best part is that it's ready in minutes.
Here I used carrots and celery in the basic recipe, but it is also wonderful with leeks (my favorite!), broccoli, cauliflower, green beans...you name it. ( You can even use the mystery vegetable below.) For a boost of protein, add some frozen cooked shrimp or chunks of cooked chicken (such as refrigerated Just Chicken) during the last few minutes of cooking time. I also love adding a tablespoon or two of any fresh herbs you may have such as parsley, basil, or thyme. Add the herbs at the very end, right before you serve the soup.
Harvest Grains Vegetable Soup
4 cups (1 carton) of chicken broth
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1/2 cup Harvest Grains
Salt and pepper to taste (depending on seasoning of broth used. I didn't add any.)
1) Add the broth to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
2) Add the vegetables and grains. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes, skimming the soup if needed.
3) Taste the soup and season if desired.
And now for our quiz... Can you name this vegetable?
It's green, it's tasty, and has a great fractal pattern! Make it for the math geek in your family! You won't find it at Trader Joe's, but I just had to share.
Yup, it's called Romesco Brocoli, if I am not mistaken. Yummy and pretty!
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Is that a kind of cauliflower? That's crazy!
The soup looks perfect for a chilly day like today.
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Romanesco broccoli! I love it too! Definitely a conversation piece...and I don't think any kids will be able to resist this vegetable.
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What a fascinating product of nature!
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I'm addicted to the Harvest Grains, but I've only made it like a pilaf (which is great). I love the idea of using it in a soup. I usually do a barley soup, but that takes a long time and doesn't really work for last minute meals. This is great.
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Where can I find this veggie? I live in So Calif?
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Hi Jan,
Right now Broccoli Romanesco is in season and you might be able to find it at farmers markets or larger produce markets. Not sure where in So Cal you are, but if you want to email us at info@cookingwithtraderjoes.com, we can give more specific recommendations on where to look.
Deana
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I live in Redlands, Calif. How do I prepare this also. Thanks in advance.
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Hmmm... I'm not sure about Redlands. The best bet is the farmers market, a larger produce market, or Whole Foods Market if you've got one nearby. Just keep your eye out - it's hard to miss because of its unusual appearance.
Romanesco Broccoli is most like cauliflower in texture but has its own unique taste. You can steam it like you would cauliflower or broccoli until tender.
It's not to be confused with Broccoflower (which is a cross between cauliflower and broccoli). They're both green, but Romanesco has the fractal structure and tastes different.
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