Cauliflower & Leek Soup

Warm Soups... With Crusty Bread / Rolls... Perfect for the cold weather that we are experiencing now. It was a sunny, bright and extremely cold day. It got colder towards the evening. So I decided to make this Cauliflower Soup. I also wanted to test if V likes his soup.

Did he like it??? Of course. He ate it all by himself. I gave to him with Crusty Roll (I bought from the local supermarket). P was tearing the roll and giving V and he dipped it in his soup and had it. It was so satisfying to watch him eat like that.

Here's how to make this simple yet tasty soup:

Ingredients
1 head Cauliflower - cut into florets and washed well
2 Leeks - chopped
3 cloves Garlic - roughly chopped
1 Stock Cube - I used low salt one
1 Bay Leaf
3 Cloves
500 ml Water
2 tbsp Oil / Butter
Salt to Taste
Pepper to Taste
Bread Croutons to Garnish (Optional)
Chopped Leeks to Garnish


Method

1. Heat Oil in a sauce pan / pressure cooker.
2. When hot, add the Bay Leaf & Cloves and for a minute.
3. Remove the Bay Leaf & Cloves.
4. Add Leeks and Garlic to the oil and fry for 2 - 3 minutes.
5. Crumble and add the Stock Cube and mix well.
6. Add the Cauliflower, Water, Salt and Pepper to taste and cover and cook till tender. If using pressure cooker, cook for 1 whistle.
7. Once the pressure goes down, remove lid and blend with a hand blender. Alternately, you can cool it completely and blend in a regular blender.
8. Garnish with Croutons, Leeks and freshly ground pepper and serve hot with bread rolls.

This goes to  the following events:

Priya's Healthy Diet - Warm Soups

Vardhini's New U

Vardhini's Healing Foods - Cauliflower started by Siri

Vegetable Cutlets / Patties

The other day, I wanted to make something spicy for P and me and was wondering what to give my 3 year old. I realised there's a huge potato lying in my cupboard and I decided to make cutlets for him.

It was another way to give him vegetables. A simple, easy and healthy recipe that can be adapted to suit individual needs and tastes very easily.

I made a simple spicy spaghetti dish for us (recipe to follow) and made these cutlets for V. He ate this without much fuss.

Ingredients
500 gms Potatoes - boiled and mashed
1 cup boiled and mashed vegetables (I used Carrots, Cauliflower and Green Peas)
1/2 tsp Chilli Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Paprika Powder
1/2 tsp Amchur (Dry Mango) Powder / Lemon Juice
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Oil for pan frying

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients except Oil and make patties of desired shape & thickness.
2. Heat Oil in a pan on medium high and put the patties one by one.
3. Let the patties cook for about 3 - 4 minutes each before turning and cooking them again for 3 - 4 minutes.
4. Serve with tomato ketchup

Note: I haven't used any "binding agent". So I let the patties cook well before turning them so they don't "break".

This goes to the following events:

Pavani's Kid's Delight Event Announcement – Deceptively Delicious that was started by Valli

Valli's Snacks Mela

Priya's Cooking with Seeds - Peas

Vardhini's Sinful Delights

Gobi Matar Subzi / Cauliflower Green Peas Curry

Yes. Its been more than 10 days since I last blogged. Not an intentional break.

Things were extremely busy - at work and at home. Whatever little time I got in between, I was too busy taking care of my plants. FYI, I have planted 2 rose bushes in my back garden. Can't wait for them to grow... I am so excited.

My parents are coming this weekend and I am too excited. I can finally take a break from cooking and stop planning dinners. Its so nice to have dinner ready on the table by the time you get back home. Can't wait for the weekend...

Now back to the dish... I prepared this more than 10 days ago. I was browsing through Pratibha's blog to participate in this month's T & T that's hosted by Sushma. T & T was started by Zlamushka and is now taken over by Lakshmi.

I found this recipe. It had been ages since I prepared Cauliflower. So I tweaked it a bit and the result was delicious.

Here's my version of the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 kg Frozen Cauliflower Florets
1 cup Frozen Green Peas
2 Medium Onions - chopped
6 tbsp Chopped Tomatoes
1.5 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 tsp Kitchen King Masala
1/2 tsp Kasuri Methi
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 tbsp Oil
Juice of 1 Lemon
Salt to taste
Chopped Coriander Leaves for garnish

Method

1. Heat oil in a pan. When hot, add the Cumin Seeds and let them crackle.
2. Add the onions and fry till the colour changes.
3. Add the Ginger Garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes.
4. Add the tomatoes, Salt, Turmeric Powder, Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder and Cumin Powder and cook till oil separates.
5. Add the Cauliflower florets and Green Peas and cook till done.
6. Now add the Kitchen King Masla and Kasuri Methi and mix well.
7. Turn off the heat and add the Lemon Juice and mix well.
8. Garnish with chopped Coriander Leaves.
9. Serve with Rice or Roti.