This week’s Item of the Week post highlights the various ingredients that can be purchased at the market and used to make soups!
Soup has probably been consumed since cooking began. Soups are a culinary fare shared by literally every culture, both past and present. They can contain any number of ingredients and superbly reflect seasonal and local tastes and traditions across the globe.
The word soup is derived from the French word soupe, itself a derivation of sup, referring to a slice of bread over which liquid was poured. Soup was also one of the earliest items on the menu in French restaurants in the 1700’s. A soup can be meat based, grain based, vegetable based, clear, as in a consommé or broth, or creamy.
Winter is the season for the water element in Asian traditions, and the kidney is the corresponding bodily organ. It is considered a yin time, when the energy is drawn inward and downward. Warming soups lend themselves especially well to the winter season, as they provide balance against the cold temperatures outside and restore and nourish the fluids in the body. In addition, root vegetables, common in soups, correspond to the subtle downward energies of winter. Winter soups are generally thicker and heartier, allowing for longer retention of heat. Very colorful winter vegetables can brighten a dark winter day.
Soups have been used as a healing agent for millennia. They allow for easy digestion and quick assimilation of nutrients. Less concentrated soups have been used for infirmities, using a few ingredients that address the particular condition of the person. Generally, a weaker condition requires a very simple soup with only one or two ingredients, like a gruel containing only rice and an herb or vegetable specific for the situation. The folklore of using homemade chicken soup to ease symptoms of a cold or flu is now finding basis in scientific studies.
Soups are simple to prepare and lend themselves well to experimentation. The Santa Fe Farmers Market is a perfect place to gather ingredients for delicious, nourishing soups all winter long. There are fresh, locally, and cleanly produced meats, herbs, vegetables, and condiments available to create the perfect welcoming meal for your winter table. No cans, preservatives, or additives are needed.
Mary Sjoberg, R.Ph.
References available on request
