Sorted Food with Lea & Perrins – Virgin Mary Soup:
My Father enjoyed cooking. Only a few dishes…curry, tomato soup, mince and tatties, fried breakfast and chips. Occasionally, inspired by one of the TV chefs of the time (Graham Kerr otherwise known as the Galloping Gourmet was a particular favourite), he’d try to be creative and cook fish or steak – usually with some invented sauce and seldom with any great success. But, for the most part his dishes involved a number of key ingredients – Lea & Perrins was always on hand and I remember that distinctive earthy smell – my Father’s kitchen.
My Dad’s tomato soup always included Lea & Perrins. I don’t remember tinned tomatoes featuring, but we had a large garden and my Mother used to freeze whole tomatoes, which were perfect for making soup in winter. The version I’ve made here is simpler and I’ve aimed to make it as close as possible to a warm Virgin Mary – a spicy tomato soup with celery undertones. And of course, with the addition of a dash of Lea & Perrins, for me it incorporates the taste I remember from my childhood. This 5:2 diet recipe is also very low in calories, but quite thick and comforting thanks to the extra vegetables. It isn’t a heavy soup though, no starchy potatoes, rice or lentils, and I was quite suprised at how filling it was. Perfect if you are on a 5:2 diet fast day.
- 1 can Chopped Tomatoes If you have any fresh tomatoes, you can add them in too.
- 600 ml Vegetable Stock I used Knorr touch of taste
- 1 Medium Onion
- 3 sticks Celery
- 1 Medium Red Pepper
- 3-4 dashes Lea & Perrins Adjust to taste
- 3-4 dashes Tabasco Adjust to taste
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
- Finely dice the onion, chop the celery, remove the stalk and seeds from the red pepper and chop.
- Soften the onion in the oil for 5 - 8 minutes till translucent. Then add the remaining fresh vegetables and cook gently for a further 5 minutes
- Add in the tinned tomatoes and the vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes till the celery is soft
- Blitz with a hand blender. If you like you can pass the mixture through a sieve for an extra smooth soup
- Taste and season well with salt, pepper, Tabasco and Lee & Perrins
- Heat through over a gentle flame for a few minutes to allow all the flavours to blend
- Serve garnished with celery leaves.
Of course, the calorie count is a bonus if like me you are doing the 5:2 diet. I find that properly seasoned foods work particularly well on a 5:2 diet fast day – usually recipes that I am happy to eat during the rest of the week. This soup simply doesn’t taste or look like ‘diet food’. So, worth trying whether or not you are dieting.
Lea & Perrins is one of those classic ingredients that makes some of the best comfort foods even better. Take a look at this video for how to make the ultimate cheese on toast. Of course cheese on toast really isn’t a 5:2 diet fast day meal – but, for the rest of the week it is delicious, quick and easy.
This recipe was developed for Lea & Perrins.
I have just made a tomato red pepper soup that is good like it is, but I think my next bowl will include a dash of these seasonings..just for a boost. Sounds good.
Snap! My dad loves using Lea and Perrins!
I use it a lot too, but my favourite way is when splashed on crispy bacon for a bacon butty! Also essential on Bloody Mary’s and cottage pie……..
Karen
We put L&P in most things but especially if it has tomatoes in it! Of course my favourite way is in a Bloody Mary with Absolute vodka!!
Brown sugar and cinnamon every time on porrige…but for L&P I love it on my saucy beans, in homemade veggie and tomato soup.
Sugar for me on my porridge!
sugar
I’d use my Lea & Perrins to perk up my baked eggs and spinach dish
Love the idea of adding sauce to it! I sometimes use marmite for mine 😉
This soup looks delicious and I like the spicy kick in it.
This looks quick, simple and tasty.
I love tomato soup and make something similar, Bloody Mary Soup with freshly roasted tomatoes and plenty of vodka. Its always a big hit at parties. Your version looks delicious and perfect for non-booze days.
I would think made with roasted tomatoes it’s lovely! one for the summer perhaps?
I like to add a dash to any stew I make or beef Stroganoff
I bet that soup is bursting with flavour Fiona, looks lovely.
Janie x
Always add it to a Bolognese or Cottage Pie, lots of stews too. Also love a dash on poached eggs. Big fan in case you hadn’t guessed!
Yes please to a warm Bloody Mary, sounds perfect.
Nice addition to the soup Fiona. I must remember that. I have the veggie version in my cupboard.
What an awesome recipe. I love it. It sounds heavenly!
Lovely recipe Fiona. am a fan of both the L&P and the Knorr Touch of Taste.
I’m sad that touch of taste is so hard to find in the shops. Must try sainsbury!
Oh this is just the sort of heat I need right now, coupled with sweet and easy tomatoes..yum. I often add mexican chilies to mine with a bit of rice wine vinegar. x
I think I might like this more than I like a Bloody Mary, something about the texture of tomato juice in a drink just doesn’t work for me, but in soup…well that’s another story
oooh yes, this looks lovely
Sounds good and so healthy.
I’ll give a try to this.
Thank you
Chantal
Great idea for a soup – I am struggling to keep my diet interesting at the moment so will be coming back to this one. Thanks so much for linking up with #recipeoftheweek. I’ve pinned and tweeted this post and hope to see you linking up again soon! 😀 x
Great with cheese on toast!
This looks fantastic!!
Have taken a copy of recipe.
Please confirm if it serves 4 dishes each of 73 calories and a serving size of 340g?
I am not sure if the nujtrition facts below are for the Lea & Perrins or for the soup recipe.
for the soup;) you don’t use much lea and perrins!
Recipe looks delicious and very healthy with so many vegetables! The cheese on toast looks yummy too! Thanks for sharing!
I am gathering together recipes for the 5:2 diet so this will be really useful. Sounds delicious.
Sounds good. I love tomatoey soups.