Want a winter warm up that’s simple and delish? There’s nothing better than a hearty soup.  It’s not only the ultimate comfort food and filling, but if you stack your ingredients right – soup is a smart use of calories as it’s very “nutrient-dense”. (Think: a ton of good stuff for your body for the calories you are eating – that’s good food!).

The spicy, smokey flavor in this soup comes for the powder of sweet red peppers that are “dried slowly over an oak-burning fire”, it’s called Spanish Paprika or Smoked Paprika. It imparts such a delicious flavor and aroma to lean meats, fish, pasta and rice dishes.  I even throw a dash into my kids macaroni and cheese – and they eat it all up!  Enjoy experimenting with it…

Ingredients:

(Serves 2)

1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/2 small yellow onion, minced

12 Roma tomatoes, diced or 28 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 cup tofu, diced or 1 cup of cannellini beans (if canned, rinse and drain)

3 basil leaves, diced

1 Tablespoon smoked paprika

A pinch of salt

Directions:  Drizzle oil in a pot over medium heat.  Add garlic and onion and sauté until for a minute – until onion is translucent and garlic aroma pervades.  Add tofu and sauté together for a minute to heat it through and create a golden exterior on it.  Add diced tomatoes and stir.  Lastly, add your aromatics: basil and smoked paprika with salt.  Slowly simmer and heat through.  Serve warm with a slice of whole grain crusty bread.

Nutrition Information (1 1/2 cup serving): Calories: 147, Total Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Trans Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium: 565 mg, Carbohydrates: 17 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 9 g, Protein: 5 g

If you try it, do tell.  Enjoy evolving your eating today!

–VSR