Mulligatawny soup recipes - with mince and veggie version

 

Mulligatawny soup is an Anglo Indian fusion dish made long before fusion had become a word, it was popular with British forces and East India officers in 18c India and then here at home as a curry soup, mulligatawny means in Tamil, 'pepper water'. Apparently British Army officers wanted a soup to start their evening dinners, so the Indian cooks, who didn't have a tradition of soups came up with this lovely soup which I think has been somewhat neglected.

The recipe for this soup is very moveable, it's essence is sweet, slightly spicy and slightly sour, it may feature chicken, meat or lentils (or dahl), and may have rice, but will include fried onions, veg, an apple or mango chutney, possibly coconut milk and spices. Some cooks blend the soup, some don't.

Mulligatawny Soup recipe ingredients may include the following spices and ingredients:-

1Tblsp madras type curry powder, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/2tsp garam masala, two or three garlic cloves finely chopped, piece of ginger grated, lemon juice tblsp or teaspoon of tamarind paste, fresh chilli, tblsp tomato paste

Veg can include carrot, leek, potatoes, onions, turnip/swede, tomatoes

Chicken or Veg stock

4 Tblsp of Rice and or Tblsp red lentils or yellow daal (lentils in Southern India)]

Tin coconut milk

Coriander to garnish

Pics above with mince below veggie

Mulligatawny method - 

Fry chopped onions in a little oil ad butter (or ghee) till clear, add ginger, garlic, tomato puree and then the spices, then add meat if using (and brown a bit) then all the spices, stir until your kitchen smells awesome. 

Then add stock, simmer for ten minutes then add your veg cut/chopped into small soup sized pieces, then diced peeled apple in small pieces, simmer till cooked through.

Then decide if you want to blend the soup or not, only if veggie version.

Adjust for spice, salt, pepper, sweetness.

Then add rice or lentils or both, cook till done, twenty minutes.

Then add coconut milk, mix, return to simmer and then after a minute serve.