This easy vegetable soup recipe uses V-8 juice as its base. This delicious and nutritious beverage is loaded with the natural antioxidant Lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red color. In addition to that, V-8 also encompasses the natural flavors and benefits of beets, celery, carrots, lettuce, parsley, watercress, and spinach.
This is a lo-cal, heart healthy meal that’s packed with zest. If desired, the lean ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey. Low sodium V-8 is an available alternative, as well as Spicy Hot V-8 for that extra kick.
Easy Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
1 to 2 large cans V-8 juice
2 lbs. lean hamburger
1 can okra, drained
1 can white corn, drained
2 (32 oz.) cans mixed vegetables or large bag of frozen vegetables
2 to 3 stalks celery, chopped
1 to 2 cans stewed tomatoes
3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
Garlic powder to taste
Ground pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Brown meat, drain. Add V-8 juice and all other ingredients.
2. Simmer at least 30 minutes, longer if possible.
3. Serve with flour tortillas filled with low fat Mozzarella cheese and heated in the microwave until cheese has melted.
How to Store Soup
Making a large batch of soup is a great way to prep for busy nights later in the week. Reheating soup is relatively easy and quick. If you know that you've got some busy nights coming up, double up on this vegetable soup recipe and follow these instructions for saving the leftovers.
If you want to store extra soup in the fridge, know that it will last for between three and five days. Make sure the soup is stored in a sealed container. If you don't have any containers to store it in, you can use a Ziploc bag. Just be sure the bag is sealed tightly! A bag that isn't sealed tightly will cause the soup to go bad a lot faster. In addition, if the bag tips over you'll be left with a mess in your fridge.
If you want your leftover soup to last longer, or if you're unsure whether you can eat it within a few days, freezing is the better option. Frozen soup can last for up to three months, assuming your freezer is kept at zero degrees Fahrenheit. The only downside to this method is that the soup may be a little on the mushy side once re-heated. It will, however, still taste good!
Once you decide to defrost your frozen soup, put it in the fridge or pop it in the microwave. Don't just leave it on the counter to defrost. Whether you're re-heating refrigerated or frozen soup, always check it to be sure it's still good. If the soup has an off odor, abnormal color, or otherwise looks off, discard it.
To reheat the soup, boil it on the stove or in the microwave for around three minutes. This will ensure any bacteria in the soup is killed. Once the soup has been re-heated, check the taste. If it tastes off, discard it. If everything tastes okay, serve it and enjoy! Don't re-heat the same soup twice; only re-heat what you know you can eat. If you don't finish all of the re-heated soup, discard what remains.