Worm’s Wort Soup

In the Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally brews up Worm’s Wort soup to knock out Dr. Finkelstein so that she can sneak out. Her soup, made from Frog’s Breathe and Night Shade, is a sickly green color.

Now, if I wanted to be screen accurate according to looks in the film, I would have made a simple split pea or green (chard greens or kale and rice) soup…except none of those appeal to me. Instead, I decided to modify my tasty minestrone soup recipe.

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 5 carrots, sliced or diced small
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 -8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 cup yellow corn
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can cannelli beans (white), drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can green beans
• 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 4 red potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 5 teaspoon dried basil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 cups pasta, cooked separately

1. In a large stock pot over medium-low heat, heat olive oil and saute garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the carrots and saute for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

2. Add 6 cups chicken broth and the tomato sauce, bring to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and add kidney beans, potatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.

3. While the soup is simmering, prepare your frog’s breathe. Place the green beans, spinach, celery, and 2 cups of chicken broth in a blender or food processor. Blend until pureed. Once smooth, stir into the soup.

4. After the frog’s breathe has been added, fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain water and set aside.

5. Once the soup is done simmering, stir in the pasta and cook until heated; about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy, knowing you wont end up in an unexpected slumber 😉

While my soup isn’t as green as Sally’s (a red base plus green will yield more of a brown color, or so art class taught me way back when) I think it turned out perfectly; foul to the eye and fabulous to the tongue.

Not only is the soup warming and filling, but it’s also healthy and makes excellent next-day leftovers!