Bottle Gourd (Lauki) Soup

There are only three people I know who relish the humble lauki. Baba Ramdev, my grandmother and my lil toddler. Though in all fairness, lil toddler will eat just about anything. What is it about this veggie that puts off people? The blandness say some, the seeds say others. Well, the seeds can be discarded. And as for the blandness, well, that is exactly what makes the veggie so versatile! It happily adapts to any flavour and cuisine.
This recipe is my mum's brainchild. You will never catch her eating lauki, she hates it with such passion! But in an effort to introduce the family to healthy eating, she adapted it to soup and the result was simply delicious! So as you flounder around the market looking for veggies to break your soup monotony, bring home a bottle gourd. I promise you will soon be a convert!

Ingredients:
Bottle Gourd (Lauki)       1, medium
Butter                               1 tsp
Onion                               1, chopped
Milk                                 1
Peppercorns                     6
Chana Dal                        2 tablespoon
Water                               3 cups

Method:
 Peel and cut the lauki in cubes. In a pressure cooker, heat the butter. Saute the onion till just golden. Add the rest of the ingredients. Add some salt to taste. Pressure cook for 7 whistles. Once the cooker cools, remove the solids with a slotted spoon and grind in the mixie. Pour the puree back into the liquid and bring to boil, stirring a couple of times. Serve hot and revel in your latest health choice :)

Mom's Onion Soup

Onion soup? I know the name doesn't conjure visions of heartwarming, delicious, soul stirring food. But contrary to what most people think, the humble kitchen staple morphs into a flavourful gourmet extravanganza for the taste buds. The French Onion soup is sought after across the world, and features on the menu of some of the best chefs. 

The original Onion Soup calls for beef stock and cream, and is topped with generous amounts of grilled cheese croutons. Not too healthy for the heart or waist, i agree! Thus, presenting, Mom's Onion Soup. Her version still retains those gorgeous golden caramelized onions, but the rest of it is simple, light and infinitely more healthy. I warn you though, this soup is super addictive. Just ask hubby. He's put in a permanent request that mum make two extra mugfuls for him each time! Coz as they say, " No one can drink just one!!"

Ingredients:

Onions            4, large

Butter              2 tsp

Milk                2 cups

Water              2 cups

Peppercorn     10

Salt                 to taste

Method:

Heat butter in a pressure cooker. Add chopped onions, Saute till the onions are golden. Add the rest of the ingredients and pressure cook for 4 whistles. Cool. With a slotted spoon remove the onions and peppercorns and grind them in a mixer. Add the paste back to the liquid and heat on low flame, just before serving. Yes, it is that simple! And if you are feeling particularly indulgent, serve up with a side of grilled cheese toast ;)

Super Simple Pumpkin Soup

Winter is Coming! No, Wait! Winter is here! Not in the Stark way. But more of the 'dilli ki sardi' kinds. And how do I know winter's here? Well, the nip in the air and the extra layer of clothes, sure. But what positively heralds the onset of winters at my place is Soup Dinners!
It is another ritual that harks back to my childhood. The moment the weather turned, Mum would chop up those pesky veggies and dish out some awesome soup. Teamed with hot buttered toast and a baked casserole, this was the perfect weekday comfort food. Luckily, hubby dear is also quite the soup fan. Or maybe mum's soups have converted him! Either way, Soup Dinners live on in my household as well. With the toddler yum yumming every warm sip!
Mum's soups were always made fresh, light and flavourful. No gloopy cornflour from a packet for us. Infact soups are so quick and easy to make that it never ceases to amaze me that people choose the pricey preservatives to the fresh route! So, this winter here's my request. Give my soups a try. I promise to convert you! And come summers, your bikini bod will thank you ;)

Ingredients:
Pumpkin, chopped                1 cup
Onion                                     1
Peppercorns                         8
Nutmeg powder                   1/4 tsp
Ginger, chopped                   1 inch
Water                                    4 cups
Salt                                        to taste
Butter                                    2 tsp

Method:
In a pressure cooker, heat the butter. Add the onions and saute till translucent. Add the pumpkin and saute for another minute. Now add the rest of the ingredients and pressure cook for 4 whistles. Cool. Run in the blender till well mixed. Heat on low flame just before serving. Super Simple, didn't I say?!

Rasam

With winters just round the corner, sniffles are fast beginning to make an appearance. And the best way to combat this is with a hot glass of spicy South Indian Rasam. Besides warming your body and clearing your nasals, this drink is probably one of the most appetizing digestives. So what are you waiting for? Lets starting making our TOMATO RASAM.

Ing: 3 large tomatoes

       2 tbsp tamarind pulp

      1/4 tsp turmeric pd

       1/2 tsp chilli pd

     1/4 tsp asafoetida

       3 cups boiling water

      salt to taste

Rasam Powder: 1 tsp Cumin seeds

                           1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds

                          8 peppercorns

Method: Combine all the ingredients for the rasam powder and microwave at 70% power for 2 minutes. Cool and grind. Pierce the tomatoes with a fork and Microwave at full power 4 minutes. Peel and discard the skin and run in the blender till coarsely mashed. Combine the hot water and tomatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients, including the rasam powder. Microwave at full power for 4 minutes. Serve hot with steamed rice or slurp like a soup :)