Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients
1 cauliflower chopped (do not discard the thick stem , chop them and use for the soup)
3-4 garlic pods coarsely chopped
1 large onion coarsely chopped
750ml vegetable stock
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oil

Method
Heat oil in a saucepan , add chopped onions and garlic . Saute them for 1 min or till they start turning golden. Now add chopped cauliflower , salt. Cover and cook till they are tender. Now add stock. Bring to boil and simmer and cook for 5 mins. Aloow it to cool for atleast 1/2 hour and then blend it to a smooth puree. Again boil the soup and sprinkle black pepper powder while serving.

Vegan mushroom soup

Mushrooms are rich in folic acid and this becomes essential part of diet for an expecting mother. This is also a good meat substitute for vegetarians and vegans. This can also be stir-fried with cabbage , carrots , baby corns, bamboo shoots , spring onions with minced garlic and ginger with a dash of soy sauce and sprinkling of sesame seeds. I have prepared a hearty thick soup .

Ingredients
20 - 25 button mushrooms halved
1 large onion coarsely chopped
3 pods of garlic coarsely chopped
750 ml vegetable stock
a pinch of salt
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 tsp oil

Method
Heat oil in large pan and add onions and garlic. Saute this for a minute or 2 or till they start turning brown. Now add chopped mushrooms and pinch of salt. When they start sweating , add stock and pepper . Bring to boil and cover it. Simmer and allow to cook for 15 - 20 mins. Now the soup should be cooled for atleast 30 mins before it is blended smooth. This can be served with a hot crusty wholemeal bread.

Mushroom Stroganoff

This has a rich and a very earthy taste.

Ingredients

250g mushrooms (any or a mixed varieties of mushrooms) chopped

1 onion finely chopped

1 tbsp of garlic-ginger- green chilli paste (together they should make 1 tbsp)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper powder

1 1/2 cup soya milk

2 tbsp soya butter

1 tbsp flour mixed with cold milk / water to make a smooth paste without lumps

Method

Melt the butter and saute the onions till it starts turning brown. Add garlic-ginger and chilli paste now. Saute it for 1 min. Add chopped mushrooms and saute it till it starts sweating and turns brown. Now add milk , salt and black pepper powder. Bring to boil. Now add the flour paste and simmer it for 10 mins with occasionally stirring. This is now ready to be served with wholemeal bread or rice.

Steaming hot Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

2 large cloves of garlic

1 medium sized onion

4 salad tomatoes (medium sized)

750 ml vegetable stock (i use Kallo stock cubes coz its vegan)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper powder

1 tbsp oil

1 tbsp cornflour (make a paste using cold water)

Method

Roughly chop garlic, onions and tomatoes. Heat oil in a pan and when the oil is hot add chopped onions and garlic and saute it till its golden brown. Add tomatoes and cook them till it breaks down and then add all the stock . Bring to boil and simmer and cook it for 10 mins. Allow this to cool for atleast half an hour and then blend it smooth . This can be strained which is optional. I don't strain my soup. Pour this back into the pan and bring to boil adding black pepper powder, salt and cornflour paste. Simmer it for 10 mins . Sprinkle with mixed herbs and any herbs of your choice (fresh or dried), this is optional. Serve this with a crusty whole meal bread.

For more healthy version, cooked handful of butter beans or pinto beans or cannelloni beans can be added after blending the soup.

Money saving tip

I buy tomatoes from wholesale dealers and make the soup in large quantity and store them in the fridge. This soup can also be used as paste sauce along with some veggies or it can also be used to make tomato based curries like chick pea curry (channa masala).