Barley Manathakkali Keerai Soup

Soup in Summer ? Why not !!! - if it cools the body.

The health benefits found in both barley and manathakkali keerai makes this soup appropriate for summer.

Barley is a whole grain rich in B complex, vitamins and minerals. Its diuretic property helps flush toxins and infection causing bacteria out of the body, thus a remedy for urinary tract infections. Being alkaline and rich in fibre, it's good for intestinal health and digestion.

Manathakkali Keerai has high medicinal values; cures stomach and mouth ulcers, strengthens the muscles, improves vision and cures urinary tract infections.

Barley Manathakkali Keerai Soup

Servings : 2

Ingredients

Barley - 3 tbsp

Water - 3 cups

Garlic cloves - 1

Small Onions - 6-7

Tomato - 1 big

Cumin powder - 1 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Coconut milk - 1/4 tsp (optional)

Preparation Method

1. Wash and soak barley in water for half hour.

2. In a pan, heat water and add soaked barley, let it cook for 15 minutes or till 

done. Keep aside.

3. In another pan, heat oil and add chopped garlic and sauté for a minute. Then add chopped small onions and sauté till it turns translucent.

4. Then add chopped tomato and sauté till the tomatoes are cooked.

5. Then add barley with the water that was used to cook it.

6. Add cumin powder, pepper powder and salt.

7. When the water begins to boil, add the washed manathakkali keerai along with its seeds.

8. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the stove. Add coconut milk (optional) for added taste.

9. Serve warm.

Notes:

• Small onions / Shallots cools the body too. You can use big onions if small ones are not available.

French Onion Soup

          

           
            French onion soup is a very common soup in the French town that I live in. The classic French onion soup is made with beef broth. If not for beef, we can try chicken broth or vegetable broth.

          Another important part of the French onion soup is the slice of baguette (bread) loaded with cheese, toasted and served on top of the soup. Instead, I tried the Shrimp toast (my previous post) for the topping and it tasted good.

          My French onion soup recipe is a simplified and easy to make version of the classic French onion soup.

French Onion Soup

Serves : 4

Ingredients

Onion - 4 medium

Beef / Chicken / Vegetable broth - 400 ml

Garlic - 5-6 cloves

Bay leaf - 1

Cinnamon - 1" piece

Pepper to taste

Salt to taste

Butter / Ghee / Oil - 1 tsp

Corn flour - 2 tsp (optional)

Prawns / Shrimp toast slices - 4 (my previous post:Shrimp Toast)

Preparation Method

1. Finely chop garlic.

2. Slice the onions lengthwise.

3. Prepare beef / chicken / veg broth by cooking it with the required water, salt and pepper.

4. In a pan, heat butter / ghee / oil and add the bay leaf and cinnamon.

5. Then add the garlic and sauté till a nice aroma comes. See to that garlic doesn't turn brown and a burnt smell comes.

6. Then add the onions, sauté it just for 2 minutes till it turn translucent. Then add pepper and salt. Then add 2 cups of water and cook the onions in low flame till it becomes tender. This will take about 10 minutes.

7. Then add the broth. Bring it to a boil. Check for seasoning and add pepper and salt accordingly.

8. This step is optional. If you like your soup to be a little thick, mix 2 teaspoons of corn flour with little water and mix into the soup, stir continuously. Corn flour will cook and thicken up in 2 minutes.

9. Serve hot or warm with the prawns toast on top.

Notes

• Top with prawns toast just before serving, otherwise the toast will suck the soup and become soggy.

• There is a difference between stock and broth. When the meat part of the beef / chicken is used then it is called broth. When the bones of the beef or chicken is used then it is called stock.