PIZZA SOUP
Know anyone who DOESN’T like pizza? I don’t think I do. Sadly, anyone with dietary considerations usually can’t have it. With this version, just about anyone can get their fix. This recipe is SO SHOCKINGLY EASY, you’ll find excuses to make it often. All you need are a few base ingredients and your favorite pizza toppings. Yes, it’s THAT simple!
Servings: 2-3
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Skill level: Easy
INGREDIENTS
1 14 oz. jar favorite PIZZA SAUCE
14 oz. MILK of choice
5 oz. preferred meat, such as PEPPERONI, prepared BACON, prepared SAUSAGE, HAM
1 small ONION, diced
Additional ingredients, as desired - see notes below
SHREDDED CHEESE, any flavor
Popped POPCORN or CROUTONS
DIRECTIONS
Prepare any ingredients (“toppings”) such as quartering the pepperoni, cooking and cutting up the meats, the dicing and slicing or opening jars/cans of vegetables (such as olives or pickled roasted red peppers), or shredding any block cheeses.
In a saucepan, empty the jar of pizza sauce.
Fill that same jar with milk. Put the lid on and shake it up to loosen any remaining sauce. Pour this into the saucepan.
Add in meat, onion, mushrooms and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soup and “toppings” are heated through.
Serve sprinkled with shredded cheese (if using), croutons or popcorn, and any other garnishes such as chopped onions.
Refrigerate any leftovers.
NOTES/VARIATIONS
This recipe is highly adaptable. Any pizza toppings you enjoy would work well. Want to make it a meat lovers pizza? Add all of your select cuts instead of just one. Don’t like mushrooms? Leave them out. Want a hearty vegetarian version? Toss in all of your colorful garden veggies. Vegan? Use non-dairy milk. You get the idea!
This recipe multiplies seamlessly. Rule of thumb, for every jar of pizza sauce (regardless of its size), add one of that same jar filled with the milk of your choosing. The rest is all about your preferences.
I’ve made this using raw dairy cow’s milk, goat’s milk, evaporated goat’s milk, and coconut milk - all were delicious. What’s your favorite milk?
Can’t “do” cheese? While the soup is perfectly tasty without cheese, Violife brand of vegan cheeze is a surprisingly good substitute. It even melts a bit for that gooey texture. Some folks who can’t tolerate regular dairy do very well with goat’s milk or raw dairy cheeses. Most grocery stores carry at least a few options. If none of those work for you, and you still want that cheesy flavor, nutritional yeast is just that with the added bonus of naturally occurring B vitamins.
Perfect for a party, just keep warm on the stove or in a crockpot. Display a variety of toppings and guests can make their own “personalized pizza” soup!
Why popcorn? Because growing up, I learned from family friends (who had a really cool farm), that popcorn and pizza taste delicious together. Being a little kid, experiencing that combination for the very first time during one of my visits, I thought it was absolutely brilliant. It made such an impression on me, to this day, I prefer to enjoy my pizza with a side of popcorn. Besides, it doesn’t have gluten so it’s the perfect substitute for croutons.
As articulated in the What’s for Dinner article, always aim for the highest quality ingredients.
CREDITS/REFERENCES
Thumbnail photo credit: Original, untouched photo can be found here: Crock Pot Tomato Soup with Popcorn “Croutons” | Pumps & Iron pumpsandiron.com 2.jpeg
Shared with permission, I learned this brilliant recipe from my dear friend, Karen Rottinghaus. This was her creation! She generously shared it with me and has graciously allowed me to pass it along to my readers.