Monday, May 31, 2010

Zero points soup.

Someone told me about a soup that is packed full of healthy veggies, is good for you, is fat free and leaves you feeling full. It originated with Weight Watchers and now there are a few different varieties if you search around. I think the name refers to the points value that Weight Watchers assigns different foods. You are encouraged to eat healthy low points foods to stop hunger pangs. As a "Zero Points" food you can have unlimited amounts of this healthy soup. I made some over the last few weeks and have been taking it into work for lunch. I also have a bowl if I am heading out somewhere that I am likely to be tempted to pig out. It fills me up so I can still eat out but not get tempted to over eat because I am starving.


Today I made two different varieties, an Asian style and Italian style. Buying the ingredients was a challenge, some of which I had never seen before and had to ask fellow shoppers to help me find! After making a complete mess of my kitchen I am now the proud owner of 24 containers of healthy goodness. 


I have attached the recipes below as found on-line. To be honest I just bought the veggies in whatever size packages they came and used the lot. In general I would say that I doubled the ingredients and still only got 12 serves from each recipe. Maybe my idea of a serving is way different from theirs but if it is healthy I don't think you can have too much.

P.S: It's time to 'fess up. This blog post may come across as healthy and full of self control but there is something in the photo that should not be there....
Can you see it in the back left hand corner...
The Japanese writing?....
I've been found out. It is the packet of Carries Japanese chocolate biscuits that are my undoing and the reason I need the healthy soup in the first place!!!
Time to go eat some more soup... sigh...


Asian-Inspired Zero POINTS Value Soup

Makes 12 servings
POINTS® value | 0 per serving

Ingredients

  • 140g pak choi, chopped
  • 150g Chinese cabbage, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 20g fresh ginger root, thinly sliced and julienned
  • 100g oyster mushrooms
  • 100g spring onions, chopped
  • 140g canned water chestnuts, sliced
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1440ml vegetable stock
  • 70g beansprouts
  • 200g mangetout
  • 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 25g coriander, finely chopped

Instructions

  • Put pak choi, Chinese cabbage, garlic, ginger root, oyster mushrooms, spring onions, water chestnuts, pepper, red pepper flakes and vegetable stock into a large soup pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes. Toss in beansprouts and mangetout during the last 3 to 4 minutes of simmering.
  • Add soy sauce and coriander. Serve.

Italian-Inspired Zero POINTS Value Soup

Makes 12 servings
POINTS® value | 0 per serving

Ingredients

  • 40g chicory, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 160g onions, chopped
  • 30g baby spinach
  • 2 small courgettes, cubed
  • 1 medium red pepper, chopped
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
  • 1440ml vegetable stock
  • 800g canned chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 25g fresh parsley, chopped
  • 25g fresh basil

Instructions

  • Put the chicory, garlic, onions, spinach, courgette, red pepper, fennel bulb, vegetable stock, chopped tomatoes, red pepper flakes, thyme and oregano into a large soup pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes.
  • Stir in salt, black pepper, parsley and basil. Serve.

4 comments - click here to leave your comment:

  1. I've made the Italian Style 0-Point Soup before and loved that recipe! I have to admit, when I was reading your recipe I couldn't figure out what on Earth courgettes were. After a quick google search I realized that they're what we call zucchini in the US.

    I've never seen the Asian version of the 0-Point Soup, and I'm eager to try that now! Thanks so much for sharing!

    And don't feel bad about being found out -- even chocolate biscuits are OK on Weight Watchers as long as you count the points! Everything in moderation...including moderation!

     
  2. LOL, Gina! Those biscuits are my undoing, as well. I have been eating so much healthier...dairy-free, red meat-free, very little sugar or caffeine...but I have one of those little cookies every day (OK, on a really bad day, two). They keep me sane!

     
  3. Oh girls. You reassure me! I'm now justifying having a few more just for my mental health!!!

     
  4. I this looks so good......Gina J.