Soup series: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I had my first Broccoli Cheddar yummy soup at Panera Bread. OMG, the thick soup just melted in my mouth and I fell in love with it. One year later, I have attempted to prepare it at home. This is the recipe I have followed. Tasty and also so filling. It is more than a simple soup.

Preparation and cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• Broccoli
• Cheddar cheese
• Milk-Water 50-50 (half n half) - 1 cup
• Ghee/ Butter - 1/4 cup
• Garlic powder (or garlic paste)
• Chopped carrot - 1
• Chopped onion - 1/2
• Maida/ All-purpose-flour - 4 spoons
• Assorted vegetables boiled - 1 carrot, 1 potato, 3 broccoli
• Pepper powder
• Salt

Preparation:

• Take a cooking pan, pour 2 spoons of ghee/ butter and saute the finely chopped onions. Saute till it becomes transparent and keep aside.
• Pour 5 spoons of ghee/ butter and let it melt. Add 4 spoons of maida/all purpose flour and stir well. It should become a thick paste (roux).

• Add the half n half (milk-water) to the roux and stir well. 
• Mash the boiled vegetables.

• Add the mashed vegetables to the pan and continue to stir.
• In case the mix is very thick, add more milk-water and keep stirring for 5 mins.
• Add the chopped carrots, sauteed onions and chopped broccoli and stir well.
• Add salt, pepper powder, garlic powder/paste and stir well.
• Close it with a lid and let it cook for 10 mins.

• Blend the mix using a food blender.
• Add grated cheddar cheese, stir well and cook for another 2-3 mins.

Broccoli cheddar soup is ready. Have it with some potato chips or toasted bread. I love it with the chips. Yummy!

Soup series: Carrot Soup

It is winter and having a hot soup is the best way to keep yourself warm. Here is a simple recipe for a yummy and healthy soup. Kids and adults will love this equally as it has a light sweet flavor.

Ingredients:

• Carrots - 5
• Corn flour - 4 spoons
• Pepper powder - 1 spoon
• Salt
• Milk - 1/2 cup

Preparation:

• Wash and peel the carrots thoroughly and cut them into small pieces. Boil it for 15 mins in gas or microwave. 

• Once it is boiled, the carrots should be soft. Keep it for cooling for sometime and then grind in a mixer grinder. Be careful here. DO NOT grind when it is hot. Add little water while grinding to keep it thick.

• Mix milk and cornflour together and keep aside. 
• Take a bowl and keep the ground carrots to cook for 1 min. You just need to cook for a minute and not wait for boiling. Add the milk-cornflour mix to the cooking carrots and mix well. Turn off flame.

• Add salt and pepper and serve hot hot!

Soup Series: Drumstick Shorba (Drumstick/ Muringakka soup)

Super quick and healthy soup for you! Good for digestion. Preparation time: 20 mins.

Drumstick shorba

Drumstick soup

Ingredients:

• Drumsticks - 3
• Salt 
• Lemon - 1/2
• Milk cream

Preparation:

• Peel off the outer skin of the drumsticks lightly and chop them.

• Microwave the drumsticks in water for 10mins. Alternatively you can boil it till the color changes to dark green.
• Drain out the water from the boiled drumsticks into a bowl.
• Take out the boiled drumsticks and grind for 1 min in a mixer grinder.
• Take a filter and start squeezing out the juice from the drumsticks (using hand) to the drumstick-boiled-water in the bowl.

• Squeeze 1/4 of a lemon to the above mix. 
• Add salt to taste and mix well. This makes Drumstick shorba.
• You can add 2 spoon of milkcream and heat for 2 mins. This makes Drumstick soup.

Healthy, light and tasty drumstick shorba (soup) is ready.