Nothin like a soup:The base of a good meal

HI all 

Its time for that winter wonder which is a good soup. This is my base recipe completed in a couple hours rather then forever. 

Ingredients

1 bacon hock

2 brown onions

2 garlic cloves

2 bayleaves

a cup of soup mix (optional)

water (enough to cover the hock in the pressure cooker and enough to cover the veg in the pot)

A mix of veg chopped. You can include for example

3 stalks of celery

2 carrots

1 large kumara (sweet potato)

1/4 pumpkin

a parsnip 

cup of spinach or silverbeet 

a cup of brocoli or cauli each

I cook the onions and garlic for 4 mins and then add with the bayleaves and the hock and enough water to cover to the pressure cooker. Pressure cook on high for an hour.

While the hock is cooking I pu the veg in a separate pot with enough water to cover and season. I cook the veg until soft (20-30mins) and then strain the veg and reserve the stock aside.

Once the pressure cooker is finished release and pull the hock out and put aside in a dish. Take the bayleaves out too. Check the bacon hock liquid for saltiness. If too salty half the volume and add vege stock. Check tast if still salty add more vege stock until tastes right. 

Now the options

If you want a chunky soup put the cooked veg back in the pot and add enough combined  stock to suit. Break up the bacon hock meat removing the fat. You can add more meat if you want I tend to add chopped ham or cooked chopped bacon  and or chorizo sausage f I want a more meaty soup. Bring back to a simmer to warm the soup and meat season to liking and serve

If you want a smooth soup add enough stock to cover the vege plus an inch or two. Blend with a hand blender until smooth. Add the meat back in and simmer again and season to liking and serve.

Another option with the smooth soup is prior to final simmer add a teaspoon or (if you like more heat) table spoon of green or red curry paste to give it a kick, Taste and I then add some coconut milk to give it some sweetness and yummy texture (also helps if I get the kick level wrong). Check seasoning and serve.

Enjoy