Mulligan Soup

According to Sharon Tyler Herbst in "Food Lover's Companion," Mulligan Soup was originally a hobo stew or soup. In the early 1900s, hobos collected whatever scraps of meat and vegetables they could find and combined them in a community pot. The outcome, which was different every time, was called Mulligan Stew or Soup, depending on how thick it was. Modern Mulligan Soup is an adventurous opportunity to use up whatever is in the refrigerator.

The Base

Mulligan Soup usually has a tomato base. Many recipes call for a can or two of tomato soup diluted with water. Some call for tomato paste mixed into beef broth. Others begin with canned stewed tomatoes or chopped fresh tomatoes. Some even start with the tomatoes and add a bottle of stout beer. The combination doesn't really matter given the flexible nature of the soup. Look through your pantry and refrigerator and use whatever tomatoes you have.

The Meat

Vegetarian Mulligan Soup is certainly possible, but most variations contain some kind of red meat. The most common meat is hamburger, which is browned in the pot in a little bit of oil. Then the rest of the ingredients are added to the meat. Other variations include cubed stew meat or brisket, also browned first. Mulligan Soup is a good opportunity to use up cheaper cuts of meat or even leftover steak, meatloaf or roast from last night's dinner.

Vegetables

The kind and amount of vegetables in Mulligan Soup is limited only by your imagination. Onions are common. You can add them to the hamburger as it is browning to bring out their sweetness. Celery, potatoes and carrots are also common. Mulligan soup is a great opportunity to raid your refrigerator and throw in any vegetables that need to be used up. If you have leftover cooked vegetables, they can go in at the last minute for just long enough to heat them through.

Carbohydrates

Potatoes and noodles are the most common starches used in Mulligan stew. Given the improvised nature of the soup, nothing says you can't use some leftover rice, canned kidney beans or even dumplings.

Make It a Party

If you want to get really adventurous, invite some folks over. You provide the tomato base and maybe the meat. They bring another ingredient or two. Just like the cook at the hobo camps of old, toss whatever they bring into the pot and share it. No two Mulligan Soup parties, like no two Mulligan Soups, will ever be the same.