Green bean and zucchini soup made in the slow cooker

Cooking food at a low temperature can bring out the varied flavors of the ingredients. It also means that you do not have to monitor the pan all the time, because there is no risk of burning. Finally, you can cook some of the cheaper cuts of meat, like beef brisket or lamb shoulder and you can also use less meat. This method of cooking is especially suitable for meat, but works well for vegetables also. And the best part is that you don’t need to make too many preparations for it. For stews and soups, you can just throw all the ingredients in the pot, turn on the heat and wait.

Such is the case of the green bean and zucchini soup. It can be made in a regular pot as well, but it is so much flavorsome if cooked in a slow cooker. It is a recipe for lent, but you can also add meat or some sour cream if you want. Even if you choose to stick to the vegetables, it will be fresh and enjoyable.

The ingredients are the following: two zucchinis, 200 g of green beans, two white onions, a carrot, a parsley root, a parsnip root, a green pepper, a red pepper, 200 g of tomatoes, 100 ml of oil, salt, thyme, tarragon, basil leaves, pepper and green parsley.

First, you wash, peel and cut the vegetables into small cubes and put them into the slow cooker. Then, you pour boiling water over the vegetables so as to fill three quarters of the pot. Now, it is time to put the lid on and connect the slow cooker to a power outlet. When setting the level of the cooker, select HIGH and then leave it to cook for three hours.

Separately, you boil the tomatoes together with the oil and a few basil leaves. You add this sauce to the soup when the vegetables are well cooked. If you are not sure when they are cooked, you can take the lid off and try them with a fork to see if they’re soft or you can add the sauce 15 minutes before the cooking time has expired. When it is finished, you add some thinly chopped parsley and stir the soup. If it is not sour enough for you, you can add some lemon juice when you serve it.   

Sources:

http://www.bucataras.ro/retete/ciorba-de-fasole-verde-si-dovlecei-la-slow-cooker-crockpot-76550.html

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/10-top-tips-using-slow-cooker