We tend to think of “fusion” foods as a new idea: Asian/Cuban, Mexican/Jewish and so on and so on. The truth is people have been mixing and matching cuisines ever since we started exploring (or on a less positive note, colonizing). The bright side is that exposure to new spices, flavorings, and cooking techniques can be a springboard for creative new dishes. Mulligatawny soup (which means pepper-water) is one such “fusion” food. It’s a mixture of Indian Tamil and British cooking. The Tamil cuisine brings the spiciness and the British added the meat.
This particular version of the recipe is adapted from Foodaholic. Her recipe uses red lentils (which I didn’t have the first time I made this). However I asked her and she said lots of recipes use rice instead. I had that, so rice it was!
I don’t have garlic paste, so I took a garlic clove and smashed it to smithereens. Just chop it up finely and then swipe the flat of a wide knife over it. Or, if you don’t mind a bit of extra cleanup, put it in a mini-chopper or a garlic press.
Finally, I used a chicken thigh, rather than chicken breast (which she uses because of picky kids). I think the chicken thigh has a better, richer flavor and I don’t have to worry about pleasing fussy eaters.
I did follow her lead in only using one pot. I can’t stand extra cleanup!
If you want the soup creamier and more elegant, remove part of it from the pan and puree the rest with a stick blender. If not, just cook it another 10 minutes for a more rustic texture.
This will make about three servings of soup. Eat one right away and save the rest in separate containers for another day.
Indian Mulligatawny Soup
A combination of British and Indian cuisine that's became a staple. It's got Indian spiciness with British meat and potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 T vegetable oil
- 1 chicken thigh
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, smashed into a paste
- 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
- 1 small potato, peeled and diced
- 1 small bay leaf
- 4-5 red chopped tomatoes (about 1/4 of a 28 oz can)
- 1/2 cup red lentils (or brown rice)
- generous grinding of black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 2 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Garnish
- 1 heaping T Greek yogurt or coconut milk
- Optional
- Fresh chilis or coriander leaves
Instructions
- Add the oil to a Dutch oven and heat on medium high
- Brown the chicken thigh in the oil. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for a short time (about a minute).
- Add everything else except the lemon juice to the pot (potatoes, carrots, bay leaf, tomatoes, rice (or lentils) and spices go in all together). Add water to cover, about 2 cups.
- Turn the flame down to medium low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables get soft.
- Take the pot off the stove and turn off the burner.
- When the soup has cooled, remove the chicken thigh and the bay leaf.
- Cut the chicken up into pieces and throw away the bay leaf.
- For a smoother soup
- Pour out half the soup into a large bowl. Puree the rest in the pot with a stick blender. If you chose the smoother soup, put it all back in the pot and reheat it if necessary.
- For a chunkier soup
- Skip the puree, and put the soup back on the burner to cook for another 10 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into a bowl and add the reserved chicken and the lemon juice. Garnish with yogurt (and/or chilis or fresh coriander leaves).
Mulligatawny Soup Substitutions and Variations
- If you like spicier food, add some chopped fresh green chilis
- Top the soup with yogurt or try some coconut milk to counter the heat
- Add some curry powder
- Put in some chopped apple for sweetness
More Indian Chicken Recipes
Indian Royal Chicken Cooked in Yogurt
A name fit for royalty, but anyone can eat (and prepare this dish easily). Nothing to chop, just mix up some spices, add yogurt, and simmer.
Jewish Chicken Curry Chitarnee
I bet you weren’t expecting the words “Jewish” and “Curry” to go together. But they do. Not spicy, but rather warm, comforting, and aromatic.
Delicious soup with very little effort. It only takes an hour to make and uses frozen or long-lasting veggies. No chopping either (other than a carrot). I did say low-effort. 🙂
A few basic ingredients get together and bring you dinner in minutes. Only one pot too!