Hungarian Apple Soup

Cook Time:

20 mins

Additional Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

Yield:

2 servings, about 1 1/ cups each

Nutrition Profile:

High-Fiber Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Hungarian paprika gives this soup a warm, mild heat and distinctive flavor.
Yukon Gold potatoes provide texture and potassium, promoting heart health.
Use tart apples like Granny Smiths for natural flavor and pectin, which thickens the soup.

It's time to bring back the soup course—and when you do, this Hungarian Apple Soup should make its debut at your table. Subtly sweet from the apple and deliciously thickened by the potatoes, this savory soup has a hint of heat from Hungarian paprika. The base of the soup is made with antioxidant-rich onions, celery, apples and potatoes, which add gut-friendly fiber to keep your digestive system happy. Keep reading for our expert tips on apple substitutions, garnish ideas and more!

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

This recipe calls for tart apples. The Granny Smith is the most tart, but there are others: McIntosh, Pink Lady, SweeTango, Empire, Cortland, Envy, Lady, Braeburn and Jazz.
We suggest garnishing with celery leaves, but you could add thin slices of apple, fresh sage or other herbs, croutons, nuts, seeds and even bacon bits. A dollop of sour cream would work too. Keep in mind that whatever you add may increase the calorie count.
We suggest warming the bowls before serving so the soup stays hot longer and the flavors are at their best.

Nutrition Notes

Apples are the chameleons of fruit. Depending on their tartness, they can be used in sweet or savory dishes. In this dish, apples serve two purposes: to lend their natural sugars and to provide pectin to thicken the soup. Pectin is a prebiotic fiber that is food for your gut bacteria—very beneficial for the health of your microbiome.
Yukon Gold potatoes are not as starchy as russets, but they are essential to add thickness to this soup. Potatoes are a good source of potassium, which can help pull excess sodium out of your body, helping to lower blood pressure—great for heart health.

Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

2 teaspoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado
1 medium tart apple, peeled and finely chopped
¾ cup diced peeled Yukon Gold potato
⅓ cup finely chopped yellow onion
¼ cup thinly sliced celery, plus leaves for garnish
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dried sage
Pinch of paprika, preferably hot Hungarian
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream

Directions

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add apple, potato, onion and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in salt, sage, paprika and pepper; cook for 30 seconds. Pour in broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover and gently simmer until the potato is tender when pierced with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer the soup to a large blender or food processor, add sour cream and process until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Garnish with celery leaves, if desired.

To make ahead

You can get all the chopping out of the way the night before. To keep the chopped produce extra fresh, put it in separate airtight containers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store and reheat Hungarian Apple Soup?

Store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the soup on the stovetop over low heat until heated through.
What should I serve with Hungarian Apple Soup?

It's a perfect soup for holiday dinners and anytime you are serving chicken, turkey or pork, like our Crispy Roast Chicken recipe, Herb-Roasted Turkey and Oven-Roasted Pork.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2007

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

189	Calories
8g	Fat
26g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Serving Size about 1 1/2 cups
Calories 189
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 26g	10%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 6g	11%
Total Fat 8g	10%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 9mg	3%
Vitamin A 225IU	4%
Vitamin C 20mg	23%
Folate 21mcg	5%
Sodium 785mg	34%
Calcium 41mg	3%
Iron 1mg	6%
Magnesium 13mg	3%
Potassium 352mg	7%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Linda Frahm