But since soup mainly involves tossing everything in a pot and waiting, it's one of my better dishes
-Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
Don't wonder why I am posting a cold soup when we still have chilled winter days here, as of my last post when we had that beautiful day the saga continued, I needed something cold to eat as well, I did quite a lot shoots that week, as I went crazy when I saw the sun!
After long day's work in the garden, I didn't want to spend too much time in the kitchen. I wanted to fix something quickly. When I stood in my refrigerator my mind went blank! kidding! my mind was blank because I hadn't made up my mind about what to cook ? Let me make a one pot meal with rice dump everything in my cooker and that's it! My daughter came down and said make some soup mom as we have some French Bread. So, Ok! I know what to make, next is which vegetable or any other ingredient? That's when I saw these bunch of Beetroots I had, actually loads of them! I decided on making a Beetroot soup but didn't want to have it hot so decided on making it cold. I had been chopping and trimming all my plants, I have a Bay leaf tree and a Kaffir Lime tree you must have noticed it in my last post, I used them to decorate my styling :), I used those fresh cut leaves in my soup.
This soup was so delicious for the weather, it had some sweetness and it is very easy to make. It might not be everybody's cup of tea if you like beetroot you might like this. But, it went so very well with my bread I had 2 cups of it, I had some left over which I had it in my fridge next day hubby came home and had it. He loved it too.
If you try this and like it share it with me, I would love to hear from you...,
Cold Beetroot Soup or Chilled Beetroot Soup
Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Soups
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves : 4
Shelf time: 2 days
Ingredients:
3 Medium Sized Beetroots
1'' Ginger
3 Garlic cloves
4 Kaffir Lime Leaves
2 Cups thick Yogurt
2 to 3 tbsp Cre'me Fraiche (optional)
4 to 5 tbsp Chopped Chives/Coriander
1 tbsp Cumin seeds
2 to 3 Bay Leaves
4 Cloves
2 tsp Black pepper
Method:
Wash, Peel and chop Beetroots. Roast Cumin seeds and pepper until the cumins crackle.
In a pressure cooker take chopped Beetroots, peeled Garlic cloves, Kaffir lime leaves, Bay leaves, roasted cumin, roasted Black pepper and cloves.
Steam them all in 1 cup of water for 3 whistles.
Once cool discard the Bay leaves and Kaffir lime leaves and rest put them in a blender and blend them into a smooth paste.
Add another half cup of water if needed when blending them into a smooth puree, to this add 2 cups of yogurt and salt blend well together.
If you want it thick and creamier add more yogurt or add water to make it slightly semi liquidy.
Season it with pepper and salt if you need, serve it with chopped chives or cilantro, I used chives and oven roasted crispy Kale and some croutons and some Cre'me Fraiche before serving.
Notes:
This soup is on a bit sweeter side because of the beetroots, even if you seasoned more with peppercorns it really doesn't help much, I would just say, have it as it is, with a tolerable seasoning and enjoy it as it is.If you don't find Kaffir lime leaves you can substitute with one tbsp of lemon juice or just omit it from the recipe
Cold Beetroot Soup
Ingredients
- 3 Medium Sized Beetroots
- 1 '' Ginger
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 4 Kaffir Lime Leaves
- 2 Cups thick Yogurt
- 2 to 3 tbsp Cre'me Fraiche optional
- 4 to 5 tbsp Chopped Chives/Coriander
- 1 tbsp Cumin seeds
- 2 to 3 Bay Leaves
- 4 Cloves
- 2 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- Wash, Peel and chop Beetroots. Roast Cumin seeds and pepper until the cumins crackle.
- In a pressure cooker take chopped Beetroots, peeled Garlic cloves, Kaffir lime leaves, Bay leaves, roasted cumin, roasted Black pepper and cloves.
- Steam them all in 1 cup of water for 3 whistles.
- Once cool discard the Bay leaves and Kaffir lime leaves and rest put them in a blender and blend them into a smooth paste.
- Add another half cup of water if needed when blending them into a smooth puree, to this add 2 cups of yogurt and salt blend well together.
- If you want it thick and creamier add more yogurt or add water to make it slightly semi liquidy.
- Season it with pepper and salt if you need, serve it with chopped chives or cilantro, I used chives and oven roasted crispy Kale and some croutons and some Cre'me Fraiche before serving.
Notes
If you don't find Kaffir lime leaves you can substitute with one tbsp of lemon juice or just omit it from the recipe
Rafeeda @ The Big Sweet Tooth
Beetroot is one vege that amazes me with its color than with its taste. 😀 The pics are so beautiful... the red pops out against the white...
Jayasri Ravi
Thank you, Rafeeda. It is beautiful isn't it to photograph Beetroot, but it's one of my favourite veggies 🙂
Jyothi Rajesh
OMG the color is absolutely gorgeous! I'm loving your styling Jayasri, Brilliant work!
Jayasri Ravi
Thank you so much Jyothi. you are very sweet
Jyothi Rajesh
OMG the color is gorgeous! I'm loving your styling Jayasri, brilliant work !
Ambica
Wow! What a vibrant sunshine post.... Gorgeous cold soup...scarlet! Love this. And your photos are so beautiful and I can see you are trying new styles... I'm loving this Jayasri.
And you have a Bay leaf & kaffir lime tree... How amazing!! Hoping over to that post now.
I've been away for a while now... So missed a lot of posts from pretty must everyone. Lot of catching up to do now.
Jayasri Ravi
Thank you very much Ambica, yes I have both the trees I should call them shrubs as they are still little ones, it takes quite a long time for them to grow as the weather isn't too good for them. They stay dormant for 6 months!, thanks for taking time to come over and leave such a wonderful comment from awesome photographers like you