Beans and Veggie Soup

Winter is in the air and what could be so soothing than a warm bowl of soup......oh so divine!!!!  I am a hardcore winter lover. I have so many reasons to love winters and the soup-sipping evenings is one of them!! This hearty fulfilling soup is a delicious way to enjoy winters. Beans of any colour or kind, are a perfect healthy food for us. Besides being very nutritious, they also prevent many chronic health problems. Loaded with fibres, antioxidants and proteins, beans can be more than a meat substitute!! And as they keep you feel fuller and has less calories, they can be a good option for weight-watchers too. So now you have many reasons to add beans into your diet and this soup will help you for sure. Go try it someday and always cook the natural way!!!

You need

2 cups cooked beans (see below)
1 carrot (chopped)
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage
5 tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 teaspoon ginger (minced)
1 teaspoon coriander stem (chopped)
4 cups Chicken stock or vegetable stock or water
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar or molasses
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon pepper powder
1-2 tablespoon oil
salt to taste
Chilli flakes (to sprinkle on top)
coriander leaves (for garnishing)

Method

1. Heat oil in a pot, add cumin seeds and fry them till fragrant. Put in minced ginger, carrot and coriander stem and cook for 1 minute.

2. Now add beans and tomatoes. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes.

3. Season with sugar, salt and pepper and pour in the stock (or water). Cook for 5 minutes more.

4. Now add bell pepper, cabbage, vinegar and lemon juice. Cook covered on low flames for another minute.

5. Serve the soup in a bowl, sprinkle some chilli flakes and garnish with coriander leaves. Enjoy with some bread!

Serves 2

Note:- 1. To cook beans (dried), wash beans and soak them in salted water overnight or for 4 hours in warm water. Cook the beans in the same water till soft (do not overcook). The water should be a little more than double in quantity of beans (so 1 cup dried beans + 2 (or more) cups water = 2 cups cooked beans.)

2. If you prefer spicy soup, add a chopped green chilli in Step no. 2 above.