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Soups have always been a favourite of mine. Whether it be my Nonna's homemade brodo or an Asian Fish Maw soup, there has never been a time when I could say no. With the extremely cold weather here in Toronto recently, what better way to ease the pain than with some soup! I decided to experiment with an Indian inspired soup because I've always loved the spices, flavourings, and powerful scent that come with the cuisine. I have a cookbook called 'Oh She Glows' that features many vegan and gluten free recipes; all of which bring forward healthy benefits. The soup was an 'Indian Cauliflower Lentil Soup' and the recipe is as follows:
1 Large White Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic
1 Tbsp of Minced Ginger
2 Tsp Cumin
1 Tsp Ground Coriander
2 Tbsp Curry Powder (of choice)
6 Cups of Vegetable Stock
1 Medium Sized Cauliflower Head (Cut into bite sized florets)
1 Large Sweet Potato (Cut into a cubed dice)
1 Cup of Lentils
1 Cup of Spinach
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
After trying the soup, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The flavours were extremely powerful, and I could taste each individual ingredient. The ginger flavour was quite powerful (Which might be a result of adding more than asked), and the curry powders, cumin, and coriander were definitely the star of the show. I found that the flavours blended well together, and that aspects of bitterness from the ginger and spices, sweetness from the sweet potatoes, and an earthy/green taste from the cauliflower and spinach. The soup also had tons of crunchiness and bite to it, which came from the lentils and cauliflower - something I really enjoyed. One of my dislikes when it comes to soup is when everything turns into a giant pot of mush; so I appreciated crunch from the lentils and cauliflower, as well as the softened sweet potatoes and spinach.
My sister was the taste taster by choice because soup is also an obsession of hers, and she loved the soup! I typically make her soups by experimenting and throwing different ingredients into a pot, with different spices. She also loves the typical Indian flavour palate so she enjoyed the soup (More than one bowl in fact!), however she did mention that the curry flavour was a tad overpowering, and that the ginger was a major player in the soup. All in all we all enjoyed the soup and this will be a go - to recipe to follow and alter in the future; it was easy to make, quick, and extremely tasty.
If I could have done anything differently, I think that I would have used a different dark leafy green, such as Kale. Kale could have potentially added a similar flavour in terms of greens, and also would have brought in an aspect of crunchiness. Kale doesn't lose its form and wilt as easily and could have added something different to the soup!
Through following a recipe to make this soup, I realized how versatile and easy soups can be. There is a certain method to making soups that can be followed and altered in many different ways. The base of making a delicious soup is similar from one to another, and it is easy to change as long as you know to substitute flavouring agents and ingredients that fit what is needed. Overall, I think that the above acknowledgment can be used in several aspects of someones life; more specifically, becoming a chef, young aspiring students always like to stick to the recipes and follow concisely, however creativity and stepping away from the guidelines can often be quite advantageous. Knowing the foundations and essentials of cooking are what we need to be successful; so expanding horizons by experimenting in the kitchen is a must for any young professional!
1 Large White Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic
1 Tbsp of Minced Ginger
2 Tsp Cumin
1 Tsp Ground Coriander
2 Tbsp Curry Powder (of choice)
6 Cups of Vegetable Stock
1 Medium Sized Cauliflower Head (Cut into bite sized florets)
1 Large Sweet Potato (Cut into a cubed dice)
1 Cup of Lentils
1 Cup of Spinach
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
After trying the soup, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The flavours were extremely powerful, and I could taste each individual ingredient. The ginger flavour was quite powerful (Which might be a result of adding more than asked), and the curry powders, cumin, and coriander were definitely the star of the show. I found that the flavours blended well together, and that aspects of bitterness from the ginger and spices, sweetness from the sweet potatoes, and an earthy/green taste from the cauliflower and spinach. The soup also had tons of crunchiness and bite to it, which came from the lentils and cauliflower - something I really enjoyed. One of my dislikes when it comes to soup is when everything turns into a giant pot of mush; so I appreciated crunch from the lentils and cauliflower, as well as the softened sweet potatoes and spinach.
My sister was the taste taster by choice because soup is also an obsession of hers, and she loved the soup! I typically make her soups by experimenting and throwing different ingredients into a pot, with different spices. She also loves the typical Indian flavour palate so she enjoyed the soup (More than one bowl in fact!), however she did mention that the curry flavour was a tad overpowering, and that the ginger was a major player in the soup. All in all we all enjoyed the soup and this will be a go - to recipe to follow and alter in the future; it was easy to make, quick, and extremely tasty.
If I could have done anything differently, I think that I would have used a different dark leafy green, such as Kale. Kale could have potentially added a similar flavour in terms of greens, and also would have brought in an aspect of crunchiness. Kale doesn't lose its form and wilt as easily and could have added something different to the soup!
Through following a recipe to make this soup, I realized how versatile and easy soups can be. There is a certain method to making soups that can be followed and altered in many different ways. The base of making a delicious soup is similar from one to another, and it is easy to change as long as you know to substitute flavouring agents and ingredients that fit what is needed. Overall, I think that the above acknowledgment can be used in several aspects of someones life; more specifically, becoming a chef, young aspiring students always like to stick to the recipes and follow concisely, however creativity and stepping away from the guidelines can often be quite advantageous. Knowing the foundations and essentials of cooking are what we need to be successful; so expanding horizons by experimenting in the kitchen is a must for any young professional!