Minestrone Soup - Italian style

 

             This is a delicious and a nutritious Italian soup which has all the goodness of vegetables and greens. It serves as a one-pot meal and is very healthy and wholesome at the same time. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this sumptuous and comforting dish.

            Apart from the veggies I have used, mushrooms and broccoli too, can be added to the soup to make it more nutritious. In short, any veggies you can lay your hands on can be made use of. Boiled and shredded chicken / mutton pieces or sautéed prawns can be added for a non-veg. version. 

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp. garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/3 cup French beans, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1/3 cup zucchini, diced
• 1/3 cup carrot, diced
• 1 small potato, diced
• 1/3 cup green peas
• 2-3 tomatoes
• 1-2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 3-4 cups stock (vegetable / chicken)
• 1/2 cup boiled kidney beans (rajma)
• 1/2 cup boiled white chickpeas (kabuli chana)
• 1/2 cup boiled al dente macaroni paste
• handful of spinach, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp. parsley, chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp. dried mixed herbs 
• 1-2 tbsp. grated cheese

           Blanch the tomatoes in hot water for 4-5 minutes. Discard the skin and chop them. 

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the bay leaves, garlic and onion till translucent. 

          Then add the diced veggies and sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

          Now add the stock and simmer for 2 minutes.  

          Then add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer on a low to medium till the veggies are soft.

         Then add the boiled kidney beans, boiled chick peas. boiled pasta, spinach leaves, parsley, dried herbs, salt and pepper.

          Simmer for 1-2 minutes and switch off the flame. Ladle into soup bowls and serve, garnished with grated cheese.

          Heat oil in a pan & sauté the bay leaves, garlic & onion till 

          translucent. 

                  Add the diced veggies & sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

                  Now add the stock & simmer for 2 minutes.  

Add the tomatoes & tomato paste. Simmer till the veggies are soft.

Add the boiled kidney beans, boiled chick peas. boiled pasta, spinach leaves, parsley, dried herbs, salt & pepper. Simmer for 1-2 minutes & switch off the flame. 

      Ladle into soup bowls & serve, garnished with grated cheese.

Multigrain Macaroni Pasta in Tomato Sauce

 

            Check out this healthy Italian classic dish of Pasta in Tomato Sauce. I used multigrain Macaroni Pasta to dish out this comfort food. I usually prepare the sauce before hand and keep it refrigerated so that I can dish out this yummy breakfast / one-pot meal at a short notice. 

            For a non-veg. version, you can add chicken / mutton mince or some sausages. Spaghetti too can be used in place of pasta or macaroni. Either ways, it tastes simply delicious. So check out the step by step pictorial, recipe to prepare it. 

• 1 cup pasta, boiled al dente 
• 1/4 cup water in which it was boiled
• 2-3 tomatoes, pureed
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. butter 
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp. garlic, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder or to taste
• 1/2 tsp. red chili flakes or to taste
• 2 tbsp. tomato ketchup
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2-3 tbsp. cheese, grated

           Heat oil and butter in a pan and sauté the bay leaf and garlic for a minute. Then add the onion and stir fry till translucent. 

          Add the tomato puree, tomato paste and tomato ketchup. Give it a mix.

          Then add salt, pepper powder and red chili flakes. Sauté for 8-10 minutes on a medium flame or till the sauce reduces to the right consistency.

          Add the boiled pasta and the water in which it was boiled. Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes. Serve, garnished with grated cheese.

                      Boil the pasta till it is al dente and keep aside. 

             

           

      Heat oil & butter in a pan & sauté the bay leaf & garlic for a minute. 

                          Add the onion & stir fry till translucent. 

       Add tomato puree, tomato paste & tomato ketchup. Give it a mix.

      Add salt, pepper powder & red chili flakes. Sauté for 8-10 minutes.

            Add the boiled pasta & the water in which it was boiled. 

                        Mix well and simmer for 2 minutes. 

                    Serve, garnished with grated cheese.

Garlic Soup - Italian style

 

          Check out this Italian style fragrant and creamy garlic flavored soup. This is a simple soup with amazing flavors. The other basic ingredients that goes into making this delicious heart warming soup are leeks, potato, onion, cream and finally a garnish of fried & crunchy croutons. 

          This soup is ideal for cold wintry nights for a cozy and warm feeling or as a light meal any time of the day. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this comforting one-pot meal.

          For a healthy version, you can totally skip the cream and substitute it with some beaten yoghurt. Similarly potatoes can be replaced with sweet potatoes if you wish. 

          Parsley is traditionally used in this salad. However, as it was unavailable, I had to add my favorite coriander leaves. 

          As for the chicken stock, you can add any homemade chicken / vegetable stock or go in for store bought chicken / vegetable stock cubes. 

• 2-3 tbsp. olive oil
• 15-20 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 leek, chopped
• 1 medium potato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. mixed dry herbs 
• 3 stock cubes 
• 5-6 cups water
• 1/2 cup cream (save some to garnish)
• handful of parsley / coriander leaves, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder

Croutons - 

• 2 bread slices, diced
• 1-2 tbsp. olive oil

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes. Then add the onion and cook till it is transparent. 

          Now add the chopped leek and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Then add the potato and cook for 2 minutes.

          Add the stock cubes, dried herbs, Parsley and pepper powder. Give it a stir and then add the water.

          Bring it to a boil and simmer on a low flame till the potatoes turns soft. When it cools down, add the cream and blend into a smooth puree. Keep aside. 

          For preparing the croutons, heat oil in a pan. Add the diced bread slices and stir fry till light brown and crisp. Keep aside. 

          Serve this heart warming and yummy soup, garnished with the fried croutons, cream and chopped parsley / coriander leaves. 

                                  Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes. 

                                  Then add the onion and cook till it is transparent. 

                                 Now add the chopped leek and sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

                                  Then add the potato and cook for 2 minutes.

                   Add the stock cubes, dried herbs, parsley & pepper powder. Give it a stir.

Then add the water. Cook till the potatoes turns soft. 

                                  When it cools down, add the cream.

                                  Blend into a smooth puree. 

                           Heat oil in a pan and stir fry the bread slices and stir fry till crisp. 

                     Serve this heart warming & yummy soup, garnished with the fried croutons,

                     cream and chopped parsley / coriander leaves. 

Mutton Keema Matar Spaghetti

 

            Enjoy this yummy Spicy Mutton Keema Matar Spaghetti - my style. It is just perfect for a light dinner. In fact, it can be enjoyed anytime of the day. It is a non-messy one-pot quick meal and can be had as it is without any accompaniment. 

          You can just add some red chili flakes for some extra spiciness. So dish out this fusion spaghetti dish when you crave for something satisfying apart from the usual stuff you keep having. This comfort meal can do wonders to lift up your spirit. 

• 300 gms. mutton keema / mince, washed well & drained
• 150 gms. spaghetti
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tomato, deseeded & chopped
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1-2 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. cumin powder-coriander powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• salt to taste 
• 1 tsp. mint, chopped

          Boil the spaghetti till al dente as per instructions. Drain and keep aside. (Reserve some of the water). 

          Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onion till light brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste and all the dry spices mixed with some water. Sauté till the oil separates.

          Now add the keema and combine well. Cook on a high flame for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Give it a stir and cook, covered till almost dry.

          Add 1 cup water, salt and cook, covered on a low flame till the gravy is thick to a desired consistency.

          To serve, place the strained spaghetti on a serving plate and spoon the prepared keema gravy over it. 

          Garnish with chopped mint and enjoy this great comfort food anytime of the day. 

                

                              

                 

Prawn Spaghetti with South Indian Flavour

 

          Time to indulge in this yummy Indo-Italian treat of Spicy Prawn Spaghetti with some South Indian flavour. I gave a twist to a normal spaghetti dish by adding some sambar powder and curry leaves along with other ingredients. It turned out really yummy. 

          You can add some red chili flakes for extra spiciness. It is a nice comfort meal when you crave for something satisfying apart from the usual stuff you keep having. So this light meal can do wonders to lift up your spirit. 

• 150-200 gms. spaghetti
• 10-12 prawns, cleaned, deveined & washed
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds 
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tomato, blanched, deseeded & chopped
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. sambar powder
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• salt to taste
• coriander leaves, red chili flakes & fresh grated coconut to garnish

          Boil the spaghetti till al dente as per instructions. Drain and keep aside. (Reserve some of the water). 

          Make a paste of ginger-garlic and all the dry spices along with some water. Keep aside. 

          Heat oil and butter in a pan. Temper with mustard seeds, cumin seeds and asafoetida. Add the onion and curry leaves. Sauté till translucent. Now add the prawns and stir fry for a minute.

          Add in the spice paste and cook till the raw smell is gone. Then add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook, covered for 2 minutes. 

          Now time to add in the drained spaghetti and some of the reserved liquid. Give it a toss so that it combines well with the masala. 

          Switch off the flame and garnish with chopped coriander leaves, fresh grated coconut and some red chili flakes for some extra spiciness if you wish.