I have so many wonderful memories that I'll always cherish of visiting Elizabeth Coblentz, the original Amish Cook, and later her daughters. One meal that I'll always connected with The Amish Cook is a hearty, simple favorite known only as "one kettle soup." The dish is one of those Amish classics: simple, hearty, friendly fare. You can pack it with potatoes and go light on the meat, or vice-versa.There are few rules when it comes to one-kettle soup. Maybe the only rule: enjoy it. When I see a pot of one kettle soup on the stove I'll always think of those hardscrabble fields outside of Berne, Indiana and of the Coblentzes and Eichers. Special people, special dish. Give it a try! This is a photo of it that I enjoyed at Lovna's once.
- 1 quart of beef
- 4 potatoes or more, diced
- 1 package of noodles
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion
- Cook potatoes, onions, and noodles together until done. Add beef or beef soup base to your taste.
Bernadette
Baby yet? If so, we need a picture.
farmhousebarb
I just love this style of soup! My mom always made them,and now it's me. My daughter is cooking the same way as well. You can put just about anything in it..let it simmer..and mmmm good! The longer it cooks,the better it tastes! Just remember to add noodles toward the end of the cooking time so they aren't mushy.
Barbara
Are you kidding that this soup got a perfect rating??? Its unhealthy- nothing but starch and as I can see, beef stock with some sodium thrown in for TASTE!!! If I want budget friendly I can spend 20 cents for Rahmen Noodles and get starch and sodium.
Barbara
Hail! HAIL!!! Not only is it darn unhealthy- That has got to be the most UGLY soup I have ever seen. Who would eat this??? Can we say VEGETABLES?
Kevin
Looks are deceiving, Barbara, this is a yummy soup!:)
Dottie W.
Barbara,this is about their heritage and their comfort foods. You do not need to be crass and rude in your opinions.
Ironically, this critique coming from the times of one the most unhealthiest generations ever.
I started out with this as a base and added fresh spinach, chopped cabbage and thinly sliced carrots, garlic, onions and fresh parsley...yum! Added spinach right before serving. The kids loved it.
Diane
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. That's what my mother taught me and I taught my sons and grandchildren.
Peachie
Why be so rude??? It's amazing and I used low sodium broth and whole wheat noodles, and it was perfect!!!! If it's too much this or that, use some imagination!!!!!
Jan
What does '1 quart of beef' mean?
Kevin
Jan, a quart of cooked, chunked beef...that would be about 2.25 pounds, so you can sub for that
Ezziej
Evidently they never canned meat. My grandma taught me to can all meat from hamburger to roast to chicken. I did it when my son was little and he still likes it to this day. I think everyone should give it a try. The taste, the gravy and the meat make a wonderful meal with potatoes.
Jan
Thank you for your speedy response. I am looking forward to enjoying this soup here in COLD Rhode Island.
Wilson E. Stevens
One year in California we had a major power outage and all the stores gave away all the meat you wanted. A friend of ours helped us can it. We cut it up into a large chunk if possible, if not into stew meat size, stuffed it in a wide mouth jar, added salt and pressured it for about an hour. It was some of the most tender meat I have ever eaten, and we loved it. Never made it again, but we had meat for our family of four for almost a year. The tomato cannery also gave away tomatoes, those we put in jars and used a 55 gallon barrel in the back yard with a wood fire under it to boil them. They turned out good too. Every since then I keep lots of canning lids on hand just in case. I am planning on trying this recipe possible tomorrow.
Kevin
Free meat during a power outage, sounds like you hit the jackpot!:)
Ellen
The soup sounds interesting.....exactly how much liquid goes in? I will probably add a little carrot to give it some color. And, You can always add low sodium beef stock or beef boul. cubes.
Theresa M.
Barbara, the Amish are hard working people. They need those "starch" calories. Did you ever see a fat Amish. I love their simplicity and their recipes are simply the most delicious. So find a different site. And by the way they eat tons of veggies too.
Sheryle
My family background is German (Germans from Russia), but I never see the foods I grew up with in typical German recipes. When I first saw the picture I thought, oh my God, that is noodle soup and potatoes! I grew up eating this soup! It is delicious comfort food for a cold winter night. My mom always made the noodle soup with beef stock (and look at those skinny noodles - hard to buy those in a store except in the Jewish food section or church bake sales), and then she did the potatoes and onions separate. Then when we ate it we added as much of the potato/onion mix, along with the roast, as we wanted. I don't know why. Now I just do it all together, ever since my mother in law asked me why I didn't just make it all together!
Kevin
Thanks for sharing that, Sheryle those "skinny noodles" are definitely tougher to find, but worth the effort when you do find them!
Bev
My family are Germans from Russia as well. I also have a Germans from Russia cookbook so I can make a lot of the old recipes that I grew up on. The recipes on this site remind me so much of mom's cooking. I still like to make my own noodles for soup and I love to can all the vegetables from my garden. My grandmother was part of the Mennonite community. And, she really knew how to cook!!! Thank you for this wonderful soup recipe. I can't wait to make it. I already rated it because I can tell from the recipe and my own experience that it will be most delicious.
Kevin
Thanks Bev for stopping by Amish365, the One Kettle Soup is one of my favorites, I hope you get to try it!
Joanne
I see people complaining about sodium and no vegetables. Use low sodium broth and add some vegetables. Didn't they say to make it your own? I bet some carrots would be great in this.
Kevin
Joanne, thanks for stopping by, and you are correct, you can tailor this recipe many different ways, carrots and some other veggies would be splendid additions!
Barrie
What is a quart of beef?
Kevin
The Amish often home-can their meat, this would refer to a quart jar of cooked, chunked beef
JO MONTGOMERY
Sounds great...and sooo comforting! I Love soups ..just about any kind,anytime...365 days of the year;and that'saying a lot here in Mississipp ha Thanks for sharing and noting your recipe can be personalized. Just ignore those who find it necessary to complain or naysay. Some just love to find something to complain about....just smile; keep eating and sharing the goodies. ha
Kevin
That is saying a lot, soups on Mississippi day in July might not be my favorite:) But I am sure I could find something tasty in Mississippi, I have been there before and the food was amazing!