I have a recipe that calls for condensed cream of mushroom soup - what do I use instead?

MaineWifey

The recipe:

http://www.food.com/recipe/weight-watchers-chicken-and-rice-stuffed-bell-peppers-307768

It's supposed to be healthy, but I'd like to make it healthier by not using the soup with all of the preservatives and junk. 

But, I'm a very novice "cook" who typically follows recipes to the letter, and I have no idea what to use instead.  I'd like to keep it light if possible. 

Any thoughts?  Thanks so much. 

 

bmk112302

To be honest, to me none of those flavors really go that well together. You can make really great stuffed peppers without the processed ingredients. To answer your question, when I have a recipe that calls for cream soup I use Pacific Organic's Cream soup as they have no artificial ingredients, preservatives and all organic. I don't make that many things that call for it but there are a few recipes DH likes that use it.  The onion soup mix in your recipe is going to be high in sodium and contain MSG.  

MaineWifey

I forgot about the onion soup mix, I'll have to figure out something for that too. 

We've tried the recipe as is, and we actually really like it.  We got the recipe from my mom, and she and my dad also love it.  H loves it, which is surprising considering his picky eating habbits. 

I just want to be able to cut out some of the more processed ingredients. 

bmk112302

Maybe you could leave the onion soup mix out and just substitute with some onion powder. That really is the main actual food ingredient when you look at the ingredients on the box. I haven't seen any other good substitute for it so I just avoid recipes that call for it. Penzeys sells granulated toasted onion which would probably work well too. I understand having favorite recipes and wanting to make them healthy. We have a few that I have managed to make more natural. Good Luck! 

kjvogelsang

Do you have to use this particular recipe?

I recommend Gina's Turkey Stuffed Peppers. You could sub the chicken in for the turkey, but it will probably change the calorie, fat, protein, etc. . . numbers

mulan922

I have a chicken and rice stuffed pepper if you want to try it.

http://mykitchenjourney.blogspot.com/2009/04/chicken-and-rice-stuffed-bell-peppers.html

alithebride

you can use fresh mushrooms, cook them down, and add evaporated, fat free milk.

MaineWifey

Nope, it doesn't have to be that exact recipe.  I could probably get him to try new ones. Sometimes I try out new recipes when he works nights to test them out first. 

Both of those recipes sound good.  I'll try them out and see what he thinks. 

Thanks for the suggestions.