Inspired Vegetable Soup

A long time ago, when I was about 12 years old, my family took a trip to Portugal. We have some family that lives there so part of the trip was spent with them. I remember seeing and experiencing many new things, I remember the food and in particular I remember a soup that was prepared for us by a friend of my cousins, Donzilia. All it was was a simple vegetable soup, but the way that the flavors melted together was so comforting and satisfying. I was recently thinking of our trip to Portugal and possibly going back someday and though I would try to recreate this simple, yet so yummy, vegetable soup.

Simple Vegetable Soup garnished with Fried Okra

8 cups prepared chicken stock, I used homemade

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium potatoes, cubed

4 carrots, diced

1 tbsp salt

½ tbsp black pepper

2 cooked chicken breasts, finely shredded.

 

In a large pot add oil, heat on medium for 1 minute. Add onions, garlic, carrots and potatoes, stir and saute for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper and Saute another 5 minutes. Add chicken stock and allow to boil until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and blend soup until pureed (I used an immersion blender but you could easily transfer vegetables into a regular blender). Bring soup back to a boil, reduce to low and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, until a little bit thick. Add shredded chicken and serve.