Cream of Mushroom Soup

A treat for the weekend. This easy to make and tasty soup is here for you. Leave out the cream and you have a healthy dish ready!!!

Ingredients:

2 packs of button mushrooms
1 medium onion sliced
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 packet of pizza seasoning
1 cube of chicken or veg seasoning
2 tbsp of cream (optional)
Black pepper powder
Salt to taste

Method

1.  Wash and pat dry mushrooms. Slice the mushrooms.
2.  In a thick bottom deep pan (preferably non-stick) heat butter + oil.
3.  Add sliced onions and fry till they slightly change color.
4.  Add garlic and sliced mushroom and fry till mushrooms cook down.
5.  Now add pizza and chicken seasoning and mix well. Add 4 cups of water and bring the mixture to boil.
6.  Let it cook covered on low flame for 30 minutes. Add a little water if required.
7.  Let the mixture cool and then blend it in mixer to smooth consistency.
8.  Put this back in the pot and bring it to boil. Add some water to get it to the right consistency.
9.  Taste the soup to see if it needs salt /pepper powder. Stir in the cream if using.
10. Serve hot.

3 Vegetable Soup

Simple, yummy and perfect for a winter evening!

Ingredients

4 Tomatoes
1 red carrot
1 small potato
Pinch of black pepper powder
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste

Method

1.  Wash and cut each tomato into 4 pieces.
2.  Wash, peel and cut the carrot into medium pieces.
3.  Wash, peel and cut potato into small pieces.
4.  Put all three vegetables in a pot and add a cup of water to it.
5.  Pressure cook for 5 whistles.
6.  Once the pressure is gone, cool the mixture till it becomes warm and not hot anymore.
7.  Remove skin from the tomatoes, they should slide out easily.
8.  Blend this in a mixer to a smooth consistency.
9.  Transfer it back to the pot and cook on a low heat for about 5 minutes.
10.  As it starts to warm up, add salt, sugar and black pepper powder.
11.  Serve hot.

 

Tomato Saar

Ingredients:
8 large tomatoes
2 tbsp fresh coconut
1 tsp cumin (½ + ½)
1 tsp ghee
Pinch of asafetida
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Cut tomatoes into half and pressure cook with half cup water for 6-8 whistles.
2. Once the pressure is off, cool the tomatoes
3. Peel the tomatoes and put them in a blender.
4. Add fresh coconut and ½ tsp cumin
5. Blend till almost smooth.
6. Strain using a fine strainer to remove seeds and big pieces of coconut and cumin.
7. Heat the mixture on medium heat till it starts boiling.
8. Now add salt and sugar and mix well.
9. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring in between. Take it off the heat.
10. In a tadka vessel, heat ghee. Add cumin and asafetida and pour it over saar.
11. Serve hot with rice or khichadi.

 

Minestrone soup

This is the version with ingredients available in Mumbai, very close to the taste I like
Ingredients:
6 large red tomatoes blacnhed, skin removed, pureed (dont make it super fine)
1 small potato (lemon sized) grated
1/3 of zucinni grated
1/2 carrot grated
1 small onion finely chopped
2-3 tbsp of finely chopped color capsicum(optional)
1 tbsp dried oregano (or mixed italian herbs)
2 tsp sugar
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 cup cooked small pasta (optional)
salt

Method:
1. Heat the oil in a sauce pan, add garlic and onion and saute for 1 min
2. Add capsicum and oregano, saute for another min
3. Add carrot, zucinni and potato and saute for 2-3 mins
4. Add tomato puree and mix well.
5. Let the mixture come to boil. Add salt and sugar
6. Let it cook covered on simmer for 20 mins.
7. Add pasta at this stage
8. Serve hot.