SUMPTUOUS SOUPS

[ayeshasadique]

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUP

fresh asparagus - a bundle
butter - 3 tbsp
plain flour - 3 tbsp
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1 egg yolk (vegetarians, just leave this one item )
sour cream - 3 tbsp
corn flour - 2 tbsp
chopped parsley
salt and ground white pepper

1.Boil asparagus in 3 cups of water until tender. Drain and set aside, reserve the water.
2. grind to a paste, reserving a few heads for garnish.
3. Melt butter, add flour and cook until golden. Add the cold water and milk, mix well and add the reserved asparagus water and mashed asparagus. add seasoning; simmer.
4. mix sour cream, 2 teaspoons corn flour, egg yolk, with 5 tablespoons cold water until smooth.
5. Turn down heat, and add cream mixture to soup, stir and simmer very slowly but do not boil. adjust seasoning.
6. garnish with chopped parsley and asparagus heads.
7. serve.

[ayeshasadique]

MODIFIED INSTANT SOUP

knorr's cream of vegetable soup - 1 pk
(the dehydrated veggies in this drive me mad, but i like the taste of this soup)

sieve the soup powder, so that u remove all the dehydrated veggies;

To the powder add 4 cups of water + 1 cup of milk + 1 boiled, mashed up potato + needed amount of salt + 1/4 tsp chilli powder + any fresh , cooked chopped veggies of ur choice

simmer till thickened; serve.

[ayeshasadique]

RAMADAN KANJI

i usually bring the broken basmati from india.

broken raw rice - 1 cup
(to make it , soak basmati for an hour and knead/crush it well )
moong dal - 3/4 cup (roasted till golden)
chopped mixed vegatables (peas, carrots and beans) - 1/2 cup
minced lamb - 1/2 cup

ghee/ oil - 1 tbsp
whole cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
whole fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
green cardamom whole - 2 nos.
cinnamon stick - a small piece
cloves - 4 nos.
onion - 1 large, finely sliced /chopped
tomato - 1 small, chopped (optional)
ground ginger - 1 tbsp
ground garlic - 1/2 tbsp
green chillies - 4 to 5 nos.
chopped coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
chopped mint leaves - 2 tbsp(can use whole too)
turmeric powder - 2 pinches
chilli powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)if u dont want ur kanji to change colour cut chilli powder, instead increase green chilli

coconut milk - 3 tbsp( can increase if u like)
grated fresh coconut - 2 tbsp
salt - to taste
lemon juice (optional)


1. heat ghee and add the cumin, methi, and whole garam masala.
2. add the onion and fry till it is colourless; add tomato, ginger garlic, green chilli and minced meat. fry till it is dry (dont brown)
3. add the mint and coriander, then the spices and salt.
4. add rice, dal and veggies. fry.
5. add about 5 cups of water and pressure cook.
6. add the coconut milk and the grated coconut.
7. serve hot with hot pakoras/bajhiyas accompanied with mint chutney.

[ayeshasadique]

vegetarians can omit the minced meat....
this ramadan kanji is a must for breaking the fast in all muslims homes in tamil nadu..
in north, it is channa that is a must...

[ayeshasadique]

CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

butter - 1 tbsp
fresh mushroom - 1 cup, chopped (save some sliced ones for garnish)
flour - 1 tbsp
salt, pepper
vegetable/chicken stock - 500 ml
milk - 1 cup

1. heat butter and saute mushroom.
2. add the flour and cook without discolouring; add stock and seasoning.
3. stir to avoid lumps and simmer for a few minutes. cool and blend.
4. return to heat, add milk and bring to boil.
5. check the seasoning and serve garnished with sauteed mushroom slices.

[dev]

Ayesha,

I have been looking for this recipe for sometime now... Thanks a lot for posting it here... I am trying it tomorrow... Hmmm... I don't have plain flour on hand... so might try it with wheat flour.... guess that should be okay...

[ayeshasadique]

its only a tablespoon, so its ok, ..i do the same!!

[ayeshasadique]

cream of cucumber soup can be made the same way as the mushroom soup....u may add cream in the end if preferred...and served garnished with grated cucumber

[ayeshasadique]

FRENCH ONION SOUP

butter - 1 tbsp
onion - 1, thinly sliced
sugar - 2 pinches
flour - 1/2 tbsp
brown stock - 500 ml (the classic soup uses beef stock)
salt, pepper
toasted french bread
parmesan/ gruyere cheese - 1/2 cup grated

1. heat butter and fry onion sprinkled with sugar till golden.
2. add in flour and saute; add the stock and simmer. season.
3. to serve:
place soup in bowls, top with toasted bread and then grated cheese; grill till melted and serve.

[ayeshasadique]

PROVENCALE SOUP

oil/butter - 1 tbsp
garlic - 2 cloves, minced
onion - 1, chopped
potatoes - 1 large, peeled and chopped
tomato - 1, chopped
chicken stock - 1 litre
salt, pepper, chilli powder
mixed herbs - 2 tbsp chopped (basil, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, parsley, etc)

1. saute garlic, onion in oil. add potato.
2. add in tomato and cook till mashed; add stock and season.
3. simmer till done.
4. add all the herbs and serve.