Monday, January 25, 2010

Basque Soup...



There are a number of different Basque Resturants in Bakersfield, in which the traditional Basque Soup is always served as the first dish, along with beans, salsa and fresh French Bread. When looking for a recipe on line, I didn't have much luck, so I gave my best stab at it and it turned out REALLY good, pretty authentic (to my experience) of Basque Soup! It's fairly simple, nothing frilly, but it's packed full of veggies and the added beans bring the protein to the dish. This one goes out to my girl Sampley who married into the Basque culture- cook it up for the hubby, he'll think you're an authentic Basque Chica!

After it simmers for an hour it will look like this...
I love Trader Joe's new Tomato Sauce in a carton, I am trying to limit the amount of canned goods I use, and this is a tasty alternative!

The finished product! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 small head of green cabbage, chopped
1 potato, chopped
8 cups broth, veggie, chicken or beef or a combination of any
1 16 oz tomato sauce
1 TBSP fresh Parsley, chopped
1 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cans pinto beans, drained
salsa, your favorite
** French Bread, optional but very traditional!

Directions:
Saute your onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and then add your chopped cabbage. Stir it around for a few minutes, add your broth, tomato sauce, and ALL seasonings (including the fresh parsley). Stir it all together and bring it to a boil, then reduce and let it simmer for 1 hour. That's it! I add my beans to the soup in the last 15 minutes although traditionally, they would serve them separately in a bowl along with the salsa in a different bowl and you would add them to your individual bowl of soup when it's served on the table.

34 comments:

ccdean said...

Thanks Andrea for your version of the soup. I have tried a few different recipes and have yet to find one I love. I am looking forward to trying yours.

Olive Oyl said...

That looks sooooo amazing! I'll have to try it soon!

Andrea said...

I just made it again, so easy, who wouldn't want to throw a bunch of veggies in a pot and call it dinner! Let me know how it ranks in comparison to the Basque restaurants in town.... look forward to your critique or suggestions.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! I just saw this and the shout out. You know IT!!!! Holla for the Basqueoooos :). I'm making this tonight. Nick's gonna think I'm from the Basque country!

Love- Ksamp

grace said...

Hi! I blog hopped on over here awhile ago & I've wanted to make a few of your recipes ever since!
Last night I made this soup and it was yummy! I had to make it a lot smaller because my pots are small- but it still turned out great! Thanks!

Malleus Codex said...

Andrea,

I grew up in Bakersfield and some of my favorite food memories center around going out for basque food...usually Wollgrowers or Pyrenees. I especially loved the beans and that delicious salsa accompanyment. Do you think you or one of your readers could get the recipe for that salsa?????

Andrea said...

Malleus Codex... thanks for your comment... fun to hear of your Bakersfield connections! :) I only have one recipe posted for salsa on my blog.... but it contains fresh tomatoes... whereas the salsa in most basque restaurants use canned & stewed tomatoes. I just might have to revisit Woolgrowers to taste their salsa again and try to recreate it... I will do my best but I don't have anything off hand. Have you tried the soup?? it's pretty tasty and close to Woolgrowers! Thanks again for the note!

Anonymous said...

Andrea, I am so impressed. You copied this recipe perfectly. I will be making this soup over and over. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Andrea, I have a recipe from Bakersfield that Has 1 soup bone with meat, cook in water, remove bone skim off any fat, add vegetables, large can tomato sauce, onion, 1-2 leeks clean good,chopped ,carrots, potatoes, 2 garlic cloves minced, celery,fresh parsley,small head cabbage, 1 bay leaf,sprig of thyme or powder, salt, pepper, cook 2 hours. Measurements are according to amount of soup you are making. You can add more tomato sauce etc.
For beans mix, small onion chopped,large can or 3 cans pinto beans,do not drain. can of tomatoes mashed, 2 chicken bouillon cubes salt ,pepper, 1 tsp worchestersauce,heat add to soup with your salsa. Eat with french bread. This is the closest to the taste of any basque soup I have had in Bakersfield. The leeks seem to bring out the orginal flavor. Would love to find the salsa recipe.

Anonymous said...

I lived in Bakersfield for four years and I loved the basque food, specially the soup. So I am excited to make this and see it comes out. Looks very delicious and cant wait to eat it.

Kellyanne Revenaugh said...

Yep, don't forget the leeks! I definitely notice the difference when I don't add it.

Julie said...

Hi, I am totally illerate when it comes to Blogs , How do i sign up to follow your blog ? Or get notified when you post a blog ?
Thanks
Julie Crawford

Anonymous said...

I'm a Basque Boy, born and raised in Bako..... Moved to SLO about 23 years ago ,,, and though we visit home occassionally, miss Woolgrowers , Luigis, ... have tried to re-create Basque soup many times , but never came close until today ! Thanks for sharing your recipe, my wife thinks it is better than Woolgrowers... I used the leeks, bay leaf and doubled up on the liquids, all in my family like more broth ,,, and do not include the beans , like them separate,,,,added some salsa in the servings ... Abosolutely delicious ,, have had 3 bowls today and plan to have several moe tomorrow......THANKS

Anonymous said...

Amazing!!! I have been searching for a good Basque soup recipe and yours is great! Thanks for sharing :)

surrealchereal said...

Wow, so glad I found your blog! I just moved to Bakersfield and went to Wool Growers today for the first time. Loved the cabbage soup. Thanks

Unknown said...

This soup is just great. Lived in Bako 11 years and moved away 20 years ago, but I still remember the taste of this soup! It is pretty darned close and thoroughly satisfies my hungar for it.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to inform that we do not eat such a thing in the Basque Country...

Steve Ox said...

Great recipes Andrea, in response to the comment about this not being available in the Basue Country, I totally agree. This is "American Basque" food. Very much different than the food you get in the Basque Country. Of course, being raised American Basque, I was very disappointed with the food I experienced over there. Way too much bread and cheese and not enough of a balanced diet. The poor older ladies and gent on our tour were all plugged up.

liz kresha said...

Yet another Bakersfield person trying this soup! I'm so excited, I just started the one our simmer......one hour has never seemed so long, so excited! thanks for the recipe. (:

liz kresha said...

hour* whoops!

Anonymous said...

I've made this wonderful simple soup on three occasions, and it's been perfect every time.Thanks for sharing it!

Anonymous said...

Searched "Basque Soup" on Pinterest and awesome to see a Bakersfield post FIRST!!! Just had this soup on Valentines Day and am making it today to eat on all week. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Finally, Woolgrowers vegetable soup recipe! Besides my relatives and friends in Bakersfield, Woolgrowers is the only restaurant I miss! Found this recipe several weeks ago and immediately went to the store to get all the ingedients. Wow! Just like I remember. Made several more batches to freeze for the colder weather yet to come. Nothing like this in Branson, MO., that's for sure! If you make it to Bakersfield, don't pass up the chance to dine at Woolgrowers. My
wife and I often contemplate flying back to Bakersfield just for the Basque food.

Anonymous said...

Just made this soup, and while it is very tasty, found it to be too tomato-ie compared to wool growers version. Might try again adding leeks, leaving out celery, and cutting tomato sauce in half.

Christy said...

Andrea, can you visit chalet Basque and give their salsa a try. I love it. :)

Unknown said...

Woolgrowers publishes a handful of the Basque recipes such as
Mayie’s Beans
Shrimp Scampi
Basque Potato Salad
Pickled Tongue
Vegetable Soup
Oxtail Stew
Jenny’s Bananas Foster
http://woolgrowers.net/recipes/

Unknown said...

Just read your blog about the Basque soup. I too have tried to match the Basque Vegetable soup as well. Mine is pretty close,but I have not used the Leeks. The leeks may be the missing ingredient. I will add the Leeks in my next soup. I use Thyme, Paprika in all of my soups. I have a friend from Hungary and she said the Paprika is used in their soups. The one spice combination at the store seems to be the magic in my soups is " Morton's Nature Seasoning". It will make any soup, gravy,casserole,or just about every dish sensational. My children have grown up with this and all use the spice. You can find it at the grocery store.

Unknown said...

I have made this recipe multiple times and we love it. Haven't used Leeks in mine yet, but will try it next time around. Having lived in Bakersfield, CA, most of my life and having dined at Woolgrowers many times I moved 1800 miles east of Wollgrowers in 2006 and was convinced I'd never have Woolgrowers soup again! Thank you internet!!! I make this soup 5-6 times a year.

Church said...

Benjis most definitely the best basque restaurant in town. If you get the recipe for the warm salsa please lmk! Churchtattoo@me.com

Aimee Gildner said...

I was born and raised in Bakersfield. I moved to Austin, Tx in 2012 and I miss all the great restaurants from my home town. I love Woolgrowers basque soup and had to try your recipe. Thank you, whenever I am missing Bakersfield this is my go to meal.

Basque65 said...

As a Euskal neska, Basque girl, this looks good n I'm going to have to try and make it. I make our french bread n it will go great with this. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Bakersfieldian - born and bred. Still here 55 years later. Making this today.

Anonymous said...

Beans we make are a bit different then that. When I go over to vist my family in Lekeitio Vizcaya my Tia does it a little differently. So now I'll have to call her and tell her she's wrong. Lol Just kidding sure there is different versions

Michelle ❤️ said...

Girl you always be making the best recipes! That bone broth is still a staple at my house!!