Soup Up Your Health

In our hectic modern urban lives we’ve forgotten the art of making highly nutritious and wonderfully delicious foods and so cheaply too. Unfortunately, for the modern urbanite, the knowledge of making nutritious food has vanished in the mists of time  and has been replaced with TV dinners, microwavable chips and all the delights of fast food living.

Personally speaking, of all the different cuisines I have come across, common to all is the soup! Soup is surely the queen of foods! Wonderfully comforting and nourishing, soup is our balm, it fortifies the body, soothes sore throats, clears clogged airways, fights off colds, builds strong bones, and has even been rumoured to improve your love life! Its reputation is that of a health giver! How about trying out few healthy and delicious soup recipes for your family!

Beet the Heat

(Serves 5)

Ingredients

• ·         1 and a ½ cup of finely chopped Beetroot
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped Onions
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped Capsicum
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped French Beans
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped Carrot
• ·         1 cup finely chopped Tomato
• ·         1 tsp Garlic paste
• ·         1 tsp Ginger paste
• ·         1 Litre of Vegetable Stock – For non vegetarians, this could be replaced with Chicken Stock
• ·         1 Bay Leaf
• ·         Herbs – Parsley, Thyme,
• ·         Salt and Crushed Pepper – As per taste
• ·         ½ tsp of Sugar
• ·         1 tbsp Butter
• ·         Celery/Coriander for garnishing
• ·         Fresh Cream/Butter for garnishing

Cook It Up

• ·         Melt butter in a heated pan. Add the garlic and ginger paste along with the bay leaf
• ·         Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for about 5 – 7 mins
• ·         Pour in the vegetable stock and allow the vegetables to cook for another 10 – 12 mins
• ·         Take the pan off the gas and allow the broth to cool
• ·         Using a hand blender (can even use a mixer), coarsely churn the broth
• ·         Put the broth in the pan and bring a boil once more
• ·         Add in the herbs – any herbs that you have at home will do
• ·         Add in the sugar, salt and pepper as per your taste
• ·         Pour into the soup bowls and garnish with butter/fresh cream and celery/coriander
• ·         You may even chill the broth and serve it cold

Forever Young

(Serves 4)

Ingredients

• ·         1 Bottle Gourd (Lauki), chopped and blend into puree form
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped Capsicum
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped French Beans
• ·         ½ cup finely chopped Carrot
• ·         1 and a ½ cup of Milk
• ·         Salt and Crushed Pepper – As per taste
• ·         ½ tsp of Sugar
• ·         1 tbsp Butter

Cook It Up

• ·         Heat the butter in a sauce pan. Add the finely chopped vegetables and sauté for about 5 mins
• ·         Add in the Bottle Gourd puree and bring it to boil
• ·         Add in the milk and keep stirring
• ·         And in the sugar (optional), salt and crushed pepper as per your taste
• ·         Boil thoroughly and pour into soup bowls. Serve hot.

Help your family soup up their health with the recipes that I have posted! Do try and let me know your feedback! Meanwhile i shall try out some more amazing soup recipes and will be back tomorrow! Eat healthy...stay healthy!

ElAmanteDeLaComida. ..

Nivedita.