Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

Cauliflower (small flowerettes) - 1/4 cup

Carrot (chopped) - 1/4 cup

French Beans - 1/4 cup

Green Peas - 1/4 cup

Mushroom - 1/4 cup

Spring Onions - 1/2 cup

Cabbage - 1/4 cup

Veg Broth - 1 can /  Veg Seasoning - 1 cube
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp.
Corn Starch - 2 tblsp.
Salt - to taste

 
(can also add baby corns/corn/capsicum to the vegetables)
 
Method :

1. Heat butter. Add all vegetables and stir fry for 2-3 minutes on high flame.
2. Add veg broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), pepper powder, salt and bring it to a boil.
3. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup turns thick & creamy.

4. Remove from heat after 5 minutes. Serve hot.
(You can add a little hot sauce/soya sauce when having the soup)

Chicken Hot & Sour Soup

Ingredients:

Cabbage - 1/2 cup (shredded)

Carrot - 1/2 cup (shredded)

French Beans - 1/4 cup (shredded)

Mushrooms - 1/4 cup (sliced)

Spring Onions - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Celery - 1 tsp. (chopped)
(can also add baby corns/corn to the vegetables)
Chicken Broth -  (1 can) /  Chicken Seasoning Cube - 1
Soya Sauce - 1 tblsp.
Red Chilli Sauce - 1 tblsp.
Vinegar - 1 tblsp.
Pepper Powder - ½ tsp.
Ajinomoto - ¼ tsp
Chicken - ½ cup  (boiled & shredded)
Boiled Shrimps - ¼ cup  (optional)
Corn Starch - 3 tblsp.
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add all vegetables and stir fry for 2 minutes on high flame.
2. Add chicken broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), soya sauce, red chilli sauce, vinegar, pepper powder, ajinomoto, salt and chicken/shrimps and  bring it to a boil.
3. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup thickens a bit.
4. Remove from heat after 5 minutes. For garnishing use spring onions.

South Indian Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

Chicken - 1/2 lb (bony pieces)
Shallot onions - 5-8 (chopped)
Tomato - 1 (chopped or mashed up with hands)
Green Chilly - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Chicken Masala - 1/2 tsp
Cilantro - 3 springs (chopped)

For tempering: 

Oil - 2 tblsp
Peppercorns - 1 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Red chilly - 1
Garlic pods - 5 or 6
Curry Leaves - 5 leaves






Method:



1. In a pressure cooker add the bony chicken pieces, onion, green chilly and tomato.
2. Add about 5-6 cups of water, salt and turmeric powder.
3. Pressure cook for 7-8 whistles. We want the bones to break down and release all its essence.
4. In the meantime, coarsely grind the ingredients under 'For Tempering' using the pulse mode. You can also use a motar and pestle to crush the ingredients.
5. Heat oil in a small pan, add the coarsely ground masala and fry for a minute.
6. After the pressure goes down, open the cooker and turn on the heat.
7. Add the tempering, chicken masala and chopped cilantro to the rasam.
8. Bring it to a boil and switch off. Serve it piping hot.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

Ingredients:

Mushrooms - 1.5 cup (very finely  chopped)
Onion - 1 (very finely chopped)
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
Oregano - 1/4 tsp
Milk - 1 cup
Heavy Cream/ Fresh Cream - 2 tblsp (optional)
Maida (All Purpose Flour) - 1 tblsp
Chicken/ Mushroom/ Vegetable Stock - 3 cups
Olive Oil/ Butter - 2 tblsp

Method:

1. Chop the onion and mushrooms very finely. You can also use a food processor or the pulse mode in mixie.
2. Melt the butter in a pan. Add the onions and mushroom and saute it till it is soft and cooked.
3. Add the flour (maida) and fry for a minute to get rid of its raw smell.
4. Add the milk, chicken stock, pepper  powder and salt.
5. After it comes to a boil, reduce the flame and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. The soup will get thickened by now.
6. Add the oregano and cream. Mix and switch off.
( You can use italian seasoning instead of oregano. Health consious people can skip the cream.)
7. Garnish with parsley/cilantro leaf or some green onions or some grated cheese or some croutons. 8. Serve hot with some toasted bread. Its a easy to make, filling and satisfying meal for a cold or rainy day. 

Capsicum Soup

Ingredients:

Capsicum - 1 (red or green)
Onion - 1 small or 1/2 medium
Garlic - 2 cloves
Tomato - 1/2

Green Chillies - 2
Cilantro - handful
Chicken/ Veg Stock - 2 cups
Ground Pepper - as needed
Roasted Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - as needed
Olive Oil - 2 tsp
Cream - 1/2 cup (optional)

Method:

1. Heat Oil in a pan, saute the garlic and onion for a minute.
2. Add the capsicum (bell pepper), tomato, green chillies and Cilantro and cook till the capsicum becomes soft. Switch off.
3. Puree the mixture using a hand blender or a mixie. Strain the pureed mixture to remove the seeds and skin. (Some people like to continue without straining but the texture will be different. This step is a must to get a smooth and creamy soup.)
4. Add this strained soup back to the pot and add the chicken/ vegetable stock to it. Switch on the stove.
5. Add required salt, cumin powder and required pepper powder. Bring the soup to a boil.
6. Add the cream to the soup to thicken it. Alternatively, mix little corn flour with some water and add to the soup while boiling.
7. Simmer for another 5 -10 minutes and switch off.
7. Garnish with heavy cream, crutons, toasted bread piece, fresh herbs etc according to your taste and imagination. Serve hot.

Chicken Manchow Soup

Ingredients:

Chicken (boiled & shredded) - 1/2 cup

Carrot (chopped) - 1/2 cup (chopped)
French Beans - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Capsicum - 1/4 cup (chopped)
Green Peas - 1/4 cup (chopped)
Mushroom - 1/4 cup (sliced)
Spring Onions - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Cabbage - 1/2 cup (shredded)
Celery - 1 tsp
Ajinomoto - 1/4 tsp
Ginger - 1 tblsp (finely chopped)
Garlic - 1 tblsp (finely chopped)
Green Chillies - 1 tsp (finely chopped)
Chicken Broth - 1 can /  Chicken Seasoning - 1 cube
Soya Sauce - 2 tblsp
Pepper Powder - 1 tsp.
Corn Starch - 3 tblsp.
Shrimp (boiled) - 1/4 cup (optional)
Salt - to taste


Method:


1. Heat oil. Fry chillies, celery, garlic & ginger for 2 minutes on high flame.
2. Add all vegetables and stir fry for another 2 minutes on high flame.
3. Add chicken broth/seasoning cube, water (as required), soya sauce, pepper powder, ajinomoto, salt and chicken/shrimps and  bring it to a boil.
4. Then reduce the heat & add corn starch paste. Keep stiring until the soup thickens a bit.
5. Remove from heat after 5 minutes.Serve hot with fried noodles. For garnishing use spring onions.

Oats Soup

Ingredients:



Oats - 1 cup
Onion - 1/2 (finely chopped)
Green Chilly - 1 (finely chopped)
Garlic - 1 clove (minced)
Salt - to taste
Pepper powder - a pinch
Water- 1 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Oil - 2 tsp
Cilantro - for garnish


Method:



1. Heat oil in a pan and saute the onions, green chilly and garlic till they begin to sweat. 
2. Now add the oats and fry along with it for 2 minutes.
3. Add salt and water and let it come to a boil. 
4. Now add the milk and pepper powder to it and bring to a boil. 
5. Garnish the rich and creamy oats soup with cilantro or green onions. Serve piping hot with a slice of bread.

Baby corn soup

Ingredients:


5-6 pieces of baby corn
1 medium size potatoes
2 tsp butter
Salt to taste
Pepper powder
1 cup milk

Method:

Pressure cook the baby corn with a mix of water and milk. Grind it along with boiled potatoes.

Heat butter, add mixture, salt and pepper to it. To make the soup thinner, add milk. Allow it to come to a boil.Serve hot with croutons of your choice

Carrot Soup

Ingredients:


4 medium sized carrot cut into small pieces
1 small tomato
1/2 tsp red chilli sauce
2 tsp cornflour
Salt to taste
Pepper powder
2 tsp butter


Method:

Cook the carrot and tomato till tender. Cool and grind it to a fine paste.

Heat butter, add the carrot tomato paste into it. Add required water, salt, pepper, red chilli sauce and cook for a minute. Add cornflour paste and cook for another minute till slightly thick.

Beetroot Soup

Ingredients:


1 medium beetroot (grated)
2 small carrots (grated)
Salt to taste
2 tsp tomato ketchup
Pepper powder


Method:

Pressure cook the beets and carrots with less water. Cool and grind to a fine paste.

Heat it with some water, salt, pepper powder and tomato ketchup till it starts boiling.

Serve hot with toasted bread slices.

Palak Soup

Ingredients:


1 medium bunch spinach leaves
2 tsp butter
2 cloves
2 cardamoms
1/2 tsp ginger paste
A bit of cinnamon
1 tsp cumin seeds
Salt as per taste
Pepper powder
2 tsp corn flour

Method:

Sprinkle some water over spinach and cook for five minutes. Cool and grind it to a fine paste.

Heat butter and add cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom and some water. Allow it to boil for five minutes and then strain the water. Mix this water, palak paste and cornflour paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper as per taste and serve hot with toasted bread pieces.

Healthy Palak  soup ready to serve

Tomato Soup

Ingredients:


2 medium sized tomatoes
2 tbsp butter
1 piece of cinnamon
2 cloves
Pepper powder
Salt to taste
1 tsp soya sauce
2 tsp cornflour


Method:

Heat butter, add cinnamon and cloves. Then add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft. Cool and grind to fine paste removing cinnamon and cloves before grinding.

Heat the paste with about 1 1/2 cups of water and add salt, pepper powder, soya sauce and finally add cornflour paste (mix cornflour with little water).

Heat for five to ten minutes. Add fried bread pieces just before serving.

Hot and tasty tomato soup ready ... 

Sweet Corn Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

1 cup corn
3 cups water
1 tbsp Corn flour
Salt to taste
Bit of Sugar (optional)

Boiled peas and small pieces of carrot, coriander leaves (optional)
1/2 tsp Soya sauce
1/2 tsp chilli sauce


Method:

Cook the corn and keep some seperately. Grind the remaining corn with little peas.

In a pan, add water, grinded corn and corn flour and mix well on low flame.

Add the remaining ingredients and when the soup becomes thick. Now add the boiled peas, small pieces of carrot and the corn kept seperately. Garnish with very few coriander leaves and serve.