TOMATO-BASIL SOUP

A healthy tomato soup for this monsoon season with a flavored twist with basil. Basil not only gives a unique flavor and taste to the dish, but also helps you keep away from common cold and cough in this season. Add fresh cream to make it extra delicious.

INGREDIENTS

Tomatoes                    5 large
Tomato paste              2 Tsp.
Basil                           6-8
Cream                          3 Tsp
Butter                           4 Tsp
Salt                               to taste
Pepper                          to taste

PROCEDURE

Select very ripe, firm red tomatoes. Alternatively use canned tomatoes.
Boil water and let the tomatoes sit in water for 15-20 minutes in boiling water.
Skip the step if using canned tomatoes.
Now remove the skin of the tomatoes, puree it and then strain it.
Make a paste out of the basil leaves.
Take a thick bottom pan. Heat the pan and add the butter.
Add the tomato puree, tomato paste(you can skip this if the tomato puree is very red in color).
Let cook for about 20 minutes till the raw flavor is gone.
Now add the basil paste(basil looses its flavor if over cooked)
Now add the salt, pepper, cream.
Cook for another 5 minutes. Check the consistency and serve hot.

CLEAR CORN SOUP

A simple soup with tasty sweet corn. Made with only one main ingredient, corn and nothing else. I love the gorgeous color of the corn and want it to dominate  the soup, so I made the clear soup. You will love the taste and will want to make it always. Give it a try.

INGREDIENTS

• Corn                1/2 cup
• Water              1 cup
• Salt                  to taste
• Pepper            to taste
• Coriander       for garnish
• Butter              1 tsp.
• Corn flour        1 Tsp.

PROCEDURE

Cook the corn and set aside. Cook till they are very tender and soft and not too mushy.

Heat butter and add the cooked corn. Mix well.  Add the water.

Let the soup come to a boil.

Simmer and cook for 5  minutes.

Mix the flour in some water and pour it in the soup.

Let the soup thicken.

Adjust the thickness according to your taste.

Add the salt and pepper. 

Add tasting salt for an extra taste(optional).

Garnish with coriander and serve hot.

SPINACH CARROT SOUP

A great appetizer with all the flavors and  healthy goodness of the vegetables, is soup. What else can anyone think of other than a bowl full of a hot soup on  a cold rainy day. Also a bowlful of hot and sour soup is a good remedy for sore throat or fever. These can be made easily with simple ingredients. Any one or two vegetables or a combination of different vegetables are sautéed, pureed and strained and the the puree is combined with the thickening agent, seasoned with pepper and salt. This is the basic version of soup. There after different tasting agents such as butter, milk, cream, cheese, noodles, different lentils, lemon juice or zest of orange etc are added to enhance the taste. Cream soups, clear soups, whole vegetable soups are the basic varieties in soups. A soup is named by the vegetable used in it along with the taste enhancer used. The taste of the soup decides the name of the soup. Tomato soup, mixed veggie soup, carrot soup, sweet corn soup, Cream of tomato soup, cream of potato soup, Cream of broccoli soup, mixed veggie dal soup, bean soup, coriander clear soup, veggie clear soup, clear noodle soup and the list goes on and on…….
Although there are many different types of ready made soup powders available in the market, the one that is prepared with the freshest vegetables right from the scratch gives us the best cooking experience and moreover best healthy taste. Here I gave a simple version of the spinach carrot soup which is simple to make but very delicious to drink.      
INGREDIENTS

• Spinach                    1 bunch
• Carrots                     3
• Onion                       1 small
• Butter                      1 Tsp
• Maida                       1/2 Tsp
• Salt                           to taste
• Pepper powder         to taste
• Cream                       1 Tsp

PROCEDURE
Roughly chop the carrots and the spinach. Now cook the carrots and the spinach on a slow flame till they are very soft. You can also pressure cook the two.  Now by adding water blend the two into a fine puree. Strain the puree. In a pan heat the butter and add the very finely chopped onion. Sautee the onion till transparent, add the flour and mix well. Now when the flour is fried add the palak, carrot puree. Adjust the water according to the thickness required. Let the soup come to a boil, simmer and cook for five minutes or till the raw flavor is removed. Add the salt and pepper. Serve this healthy soup hot. 

TOMATO SOUP

When it comes to a perfect healthy appetizer soup takes the top position. And a simple tomato soup takes the top position in soups. This tomato soup can be made in many different ways. There are many instant soup mixes available in market. These tastes good but the soup made with fresh ingredients is not only simple and healthy but also makes you proud and satisfactory for making best dish.
INGREDIENTS

• Tomatoes                  6
• Butter                       1 Tsp
• Garlic                         2 small pods
• Maida       1 tsp
• Salt                            to taste
• Pepper                       to taste
• Water                         as required
• Bread croutons          as required
• Cream                        1/4 cup           

PROCEDURE
Blanch the tomatoes and remove the skins. Now take a pan, heat it and add the butter. Add the garlic cloves. Sautee for a minute and switch off the flame. Now grind the garlic and blanched tomatoes with a cup of water to a puree.
Again heat the butter in the pan. Add the maida. Fry for a minute. Now add the tomato puree using a sieve. There should be no seeds or tomato pieces in the soup. Now mix well. See that there are no lumps formed. Reduce the flame to minimum  and cook till the tomato puree looses the raw flavor. Add the salt and pepper according to ur taste. When the soup slightly becomes thick add the cream. Mix well and serve hot by topping it with crunchy bread croutons. 
TIPS

• Add the spices of your taste, jeera powder, garlic powder etc.
• Coriander leaves can also be added to increase the flavor and taste.
• Sauté half an onion along with garlic cloves and grind this also along with tomatoes.
• Don’t forget to sieve the puree to get smooth, silky textured soup.