GREEN TOMATO SOUP

​I am always excited to work with seasonal produce as you do not get to work with such ingredients frequently. With the winters currently on in Mumbai, the market place is brimming with some beautiful vegetables and fruits. This season what caught my attention were the GREEN TOMATOES. These are tomatoes picked from the vines while they are still not ripe. Hence in texture as well as in flavour they are very different from the regular, ripened, red tomatoes commonly used in the Indian kitchen.

Green tomatoes are extremely tart and have a very firm peel and texture. These properties lend their usage to various curries, stir-fries, chutneys as well as salads. However, the nip in the air always prompts me to indulge in delicious soups. So, I went ahead and made a green tomato soup with a very special ingredient that further elevated their flavour.
Here is my recipe:

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INGREDIENTS:

• Herb-garlic butter OR regular butter - 1 tablespoon
• Green Tomatoes (Peeled & finely chopped) - 150 gm
• Garlic cloves (finely chopped) - ½ tablespoon
• Green Chillies (finely chopped) - ½ teaspoon
• Coconut Milk (thick) - 50 ml
• Water - 100 ml
• Sugar - ¼ teaspoon
• Pepper Powder (I have used white pepper one)  - ¼ teaspoon
• Salt to taste
• Red chilli flakes for garnishing

(PS: The above ingredients will make sufficient soup for 1 person)
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METHOD:

1. Heat a cooking pot preferably a non-stick one on medium flame.
2. Once it is hot add the butter to it.
3. As the butter melts, add the garlic, green chillies and fry for a minute.
4. Now add the chopped tomatoes and fry for another minute.
5. Pour in the water and allow the mixture to simmer.
6. The cooking should soften the tomatoes.
7. Once the tomatoes have softened add salt, sugar, pepper and mix well.
8. Now, add the coconut milk and cook for 30 seconds. (This is my special ingredient that brings a lovely creaminess to the soup and enhances its flavour.)
9. Pull off the stove and immediately with a hand blender puree the mixture till there are no clumps left. (Alternatively you can empty contents in a mixer or food processor. If the soup cools down during this stage after the blending, reheat it in the same pot of in the microwave oven for 30 seconds to a minute.)
10. Empty contents in a serving bowl, garnish with red chilli flakes and serve hot.

​So, do try out this recipe and let me know how it turned out.
Till then, HAPPY COOKING...