Soup Weather | Eggplant Ravioli Soup

As I've mentioned before, fall weekends for me are all about soup. There's nothing like making a big pot of soup on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon that warms you up better. Plus, you don't have to worry about cooking because it's ready to be heated up whenever. So once it's made its no muss no fuss. Just the way I like it. 

Last weekend I decided to try this Eggplant Ravioli Soup because I'm a huge fan of ravioli and well, eggplant parm is pretty bomb! So both in a soup seemed like a winning combo to me. The results were delicious - check out the recipe below!

What You'll Need:

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 eggplant, half of the skin peeled to make stripes in the flesh chopped into 1/4 inch cubes

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

salt and pepper

One 32 oz. container of chicken broth (I used organic and low sodium)

One 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

(I live with an Italian, so only Tutto Rosso or San Marzano will do!)

1 pound raviolini (mini ravioli -- and Celentanos is the best brand to get)

1 cup torn or sliced basil leaves

grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese for topping

Directions:

1. In a medium soup pot, melt the butter with the EVOO over medium heat. Add the eggplant and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to boil. Add the raviolini and cook until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the basil.

2. Serve in soup bowls, topped with lots of extra cheese : )

it's that simple!

Served best with your favorite beer or glass of wine -- the perfect Sunday combo!

Also funny little sidebar: D doesn't like eggplant. He claims "it's a texture thing." Okkkkk. So when I made this soup I was hoping he wouldn't even notice. And in fact I was right! He took one look at the pot of the stove and said, "ohhh is that zucchini in there?" Mind you I didn't say yes, because that would be lying, so I just smiled and said "I hope you like this soup -- it took me forever to make."

In fact he did love the soup, and I waited until he finished his second heaping bowl to tell him that I guess he likes eggplant now ; )

Hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as D did!!

xo Steph