Grimod de la Reyniere, the first public critic of cooking, said “Soup is, what a portico is to an edifice. It is not only the first object of attraction, but, if it is well combined, it gives a true foretaste of the temple itself.” A good soup is a good start to a meal. Contrary to popular perception, it can also be a complete meal in itself! In addition, it can beat the urge of calorie-ridden meals and constant craving for tea or coffee in winters. We talk to chefs in the city about some filling soup recipes.
“ I would recommend minstrel soup for a complete meal. This soup can be prepared by using fresh vegetables like beans, turnips, carrots and others according to one’s tastes. The base for this soup is tomato and pasta or macaroni is also added to it, which is a good source of starch and helps in maintaining the consistency of the soup,” says executive chef, Subroto Goswami, Radisson Blu Hotel, Paschim Vihar. Grated parmesan cheese and pesto (mixture of crushed garlic, basil, pine nuts and olive oil) add distinct flavour to the soup. This soup can be best served with a nice whole-wheat bread.
Another soup that can be quite a meal in itself, is the smoked chicken soup. Prabodh Praharaj, junior sous chef, Citrus Hotel, Gurgaon says, “Smoked chicken soup is made using chicken stock. It is healthy and rich in nutrients. The soup also has ginger roots, fennel and lemon grass, which are excellent means to get rid of cold and cough. In additional, the smoky flavour ensures a certain warmth. It is quite filling as well.”
Good soups have specific ingredients that make them stand out. They are also cooked a specific way to bring out the right flavors and textures. “In a chimney soup, charcoal is placed at the centre of the bowl. The major ingredients of this soup are stalk vegetables like asparagus, celery, fiddle head ferns, broccoli, tofu and carrots. These vegetables add colour to the soup. Since the winters are already here, one can add additional ingredients to the soup like cinnamon sticks, star anise and some pepper, which will generate warmth in body,” says Prasenjit, master chef, Oriental Blossom, Optus Sarovar Premiere hotel, Gurgaon. Executive chef, Bernhard Koeing, The Lalit suggests Laksa (spicy noodle soup) with chicken & Asian green. He says, “Laksa soup is a hearty meal all by itself, and extremely easy to put together in a kitchen. It is prepared with chicken breast, egg noodles, and pok choy. Spicy and aromatic, Laksa is an everyday soup in Southeast Asia.”
Slurp it up then!