Last week I started craving for soup at work. The thought kept me company until I reached home and made this yummy soup. It was sweet with spicy undertones and extremely delicious. It didn’t take very long to make and is perfect for cold and rainy days!

Carrot, Pumpkin and Coriander Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 7-8 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 1.5 inch knob of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
• 3-4 dry red chillies, halved (can substitute fresh red chillies for this)
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 to 1.5 tbsps coriander seeds
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• ¼ orange pumpkin, peeled and chopped
• Half to one cup chopped coriander (use half for the soup and reserve the rest for the garnish)
• Low fat milk as desired (to achieve the soup consistency you like)
• 2 tbsps thick yoghurt
• 2 tsps Red chilli powder (less or more as per your spice intensity)
• 2 tbsps Cumin seed powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 tsps oil (I used a Olive Canola blend, you can use your normal cooking oil)

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan and once it’s warm, add in the cumin seeds and coriander seeds.
• Once they splutter add the dried red chillies (or fresh if that is what you are using) and stir for 30 seconds.
• Next, add the garlic, ginger and onions in that order, stirring each one for 30 seconds before adding the next ingredient.
• Once the onions have become translucent add the carrots and stir for a while.
•  When the carrots become half cooked, which will take around 5-10 minutes, depending on the carrots,  add in the orange pumpkin and a handful of chopped coriander.
• Add in a bit of salt to help the vegetables cook faster and stir the vegetables once a while.
• You can also add in some water (about half a cup) and cover the pan to help cook the vegetables faster.
• Once the vegetables are cooked and cooled, add in the yoghurt and blend using a stick blender or your mixer to a smooth paste. Use milk to help you blend, and get the consistency you like for your soups.
• Transfer the soup back to the pan and heat it till it achieves a rolling boil. Check for seasoning and add more salt if needed.
• Add in the balance yoghurt and switch off the gas.
• Serve with garnishes of yoghurt and coriander leaves.