No Cream Of Broccoli Soup

A much healthier version of the cream of broccoli soup. A must try for the weight watchers.

Here is what you need 

• 1 lb broccoli florets
• 1 medium white onion cut in cubes
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp butter
• 3 cups water /vegetable stock
• 1 cup low fat milk 
• 1 tsp cornflour
• a pinch of nutmeg powder
• 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper corns

Here is how you do it

1. In a pressure cooker , heat butter .Add garlic and saute the onions.
2. Add the sugar and saute on medium flame till the onions are caramelized . Take care not to burn the onions
3. Then add the broccoli florets. Saute well.
4. Add stock and and cook for 2 whistles.
5. Cool the mixture and blend till smooth.
6. Blend milk and cornflour and add to the soup. 
7. Now heat the soup in another vessel .
8. Add nutmeg , salt and pepper. Adjust as per taste
9. Add walnuts and  Serve hot. 

Minestrone soup

This one is my personal favourite. Had made it yesterday. Forgot to click a pic. but here is the recipe.

• 4 large ripe tomatoes very finely chopped
• 1 cup diced celery
• 4 to 5 cloves of garlic chopped
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup cooked rajma / beans
• 1 cup boiled fusilli or any small sized pasta
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp crushed peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp tobasco sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 5 cups water / vegetable stock.
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a large sauce pan add olive oil. Then add garlic , oregano, pepper and onions. Saute for a while.
2. Then add celery, carrots and tomatoes and saute well.
3. Then add water or stock and simmer for 20 mins on a low flame .
4. Then add tomato sauce and salt and boil again for 10 mins.
5. Add rajma and pasta. Add tobasco sauce.
6. Simmer for a while.
7. Serve hot. Adjust seasoning

Tips.

1. Adding tomato sauce will help thicken the soup a little.
2. Tobasco sauce will give a slight hot taste.
3. The more you simmer , the tastier the soup.
4. I prefer homemade vegetable stock or simply water. The canned stock has a high sodium level.
5. For chiken minestrone soup , add chicken stock and bit sized cooked chicken

Palak Potato Soup

 Today I made this healthy and really yummy soup. I have made this one a no. of times , but this time I made it a point to click a photo
Here is what you need:-

• 4 cups roughly chopped Palak (spinach)
• 1 medium potato diced
• 1 meduim onion diced
• 1 tsp butter
• 3 garlic cloves
• 10 to 15 whole black peppercorns
• 2 tsp oregano
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups water
• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
• Cream for garnishing ( optional)

Method:-

1. In a pressure cooker heat butter and saute garlic cloves, pepper and oregano
2. Saute the onions and potatoes and add the palak leaves. 
3. Add water and pressure cook for 10 to 15 mins.
4. Cool the mixture and blend it in a blender .
5. Pour the mixture back in the pan and bring it to a boil. 
6. Add salt. Taste for seasoning.
7. Garnish with garlic and cream.