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Madras Curried Tomato Soup

I have hardly used any of my cookbooks for anything more than bedtime reading for the last year, so I decided it was time to pick one up and try out a new recipe.

The cookbook I decided to choose a recipe from was my copy of Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian. This fabulous book was a gift from my good friend Lisa from Lisa's Kitchen and let me tell you, it is a great read, but really it is now time to start cooking from it again.

In this book, Madhur moves away from the Indian cookery that we associate her with and draws on four decades of travelling around the world to provide us with over 650 recipes. She covers dried beans and peas, nuts, vegetables, grains, dairy, soups, salads, drinks, and sauces whilst reminiscing about when she first tried each dish, with recipes such as : Bulgur Wheat with Red Pepper Paste (Turkey), Sweet Potatoes with Raisins and Cinnamon (Morocco), Persian Sweet and Sour "Ratatouille" of Fruit and Vegetables (Iran), Tuscan Zucchini Pie (Italy), Ginger Fruit Punch (India) and Red Kidney Bean Stew with a Peanut Sauce (Nigeria).

Me being me, I decided to choose a soup, no surprise there then!



















Madras Curried Tomato Soup

2 tbsp peanut or canola oil
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp curry powder
2 cups coarsely chopped tomatoes
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into coarse rounds
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into rough dice
1 cup fresh or frozen and defrosted peas
2 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup of vegetable stock


Put the oil in a medium-large pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the onion. Stir and saute 4 to 5 minutes, or until the onion is golden brown. Put in the curry powder and stir it around for 10 seconds, then put in the tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, peas, salt and 4 cups of water. Bring to the boil. Cover, turn the heat down to low, and simmer gently for 45 minutes. Blend the soup in batches in a blender and then stir back into the saucepan through a coarse sieve, making sure you create a soup of the thickness you desire, by adding the stock. Stir to mix. Heat the soup, if you want to serve it hot, or cover and refrigerate if you want to serve cold. Garnish with chives, if desired, when serving.

Serves 4 to 6

I really enjoyed this soup, but Graham wasn't too sure. Probably because it was so creamy. I think next time I make it, I will taste it first without the cream and if I decide to add some, I will only add a splosh.

Disclosure Statement: I did not receive this book free from the publisher to review, this is my own copy. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

34 comments

  1. What a warming soup for the cold winter and that spoon is mighty spiffy!

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  2. It is indeed cold Peter, but probably not as cold as it is there for you! Spiffy is such a good word, I may have to fit it in today sometime :)

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  3. That does sound really good but I think omitting the cream makes sense. Maybe a dollop of yogourt or sour cream if it needs something?

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  4. Hi Katerina, the sour cream or yoghurt is a good idea, it would definitely make for a lighter soup.

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  5. From the things I've seen on TV Ms Jaffrey strike me as a sweet person, this book sure sounds good!

    I think I'd be with Graham on this soup though, I'm not too fond of cream in my creamy soups. I usually go with a splosh of creme fraiche or milk and the whizz it with a hand blender (what did one do vefore that invention??). But for the rest of the recipe, *yum*

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  6. can never really go wrong with a Madhur Jaffrey recipe. It looks and sounds great and I do like creamy soups. I really need to start using my cookbooks more often. I keep on buying them and there are just too many to choose from. Maybe I should myself a once a week cookbook recipe challenge!

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  7. I was glad to read your comment about the cream because I was trying to think of a substitute. I'm going to try just leaving it out. I might try this tonight. It is -10 here today. That is -10F (or around -25 for you C people!). Soup is definitely a good idea!

    -Dana

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  8. One question. I was just writing down this recipe but I don't see where the stock gets used. Is it added in addition to the water?

    Thanks!

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  9. Nice recipe but even if it wasn't, I'd eat just to use that spoon!

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  10. Yum. I love Madhur. And I love tomato soup... so, this is perfect!

    Love the spoon!!

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  11. I'm so glad someone else takes their cookbooks to bed with them! My non-foodie friends think I'm barmy when I tell them I read my bookbooks in bed...

    Looks like Uri Geller's been at your spoons! xxx

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  12. That looks just lovely Holler. I have not tried that recipe yet, but I certainly will sooner than later, as I find myself craving soup too. It's been such a cold winter!

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  13. Hi Pia, I am with you there, hand blenders are essential when you are soup making.

    Hi Dana, boy that is cold! I can see why you would want soup! The stock is added later than the water after it is blended, although you are right, I haven't put that in, I will adjust it now!

    It is a cool spoon, isn't it Joan, just don't ask where I got it!

    Hey Sylvie, a weekly cookbook challenge sounds like a good idea, but I don't think I could stick with it for long. There are too many good blog recipes out there to try!

    Hi Lo, I am glad you like the recipe and the spoon :)

    I will have to try the spoon rubbing trick with my other spoon Hayley, he he!

    Hi Lisa, Colder for you than for me, I think, although every month is soup making month for us, isn't it :)

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  14. Holler did you drop your spoon down the disposal!? Or get it stuck in the dishwasher somehow? What a cool twisty bit!

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  15. I love the spoon! I have something similar for honey and it really works :) Love the sound of this soup too Holler! I've never thought to curry tomatoes but I can see how it would work beautifully :)

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  16. I love that cookbook. I tell myself every now and then I'm going to cook at least one recipe from all of the books I've neglected. Don't know why it's so difficult to do!

    I think the soup looks delicious!

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  17. Sounds delicious and warming! I agree with Graham on not having a lot of cream in soup - but it might mean you have to adjust the spices!

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  18. Sounds delicious. I can almost smell the cury! My bedside table is filled with cookbooks. It's my favorite thing to read before going to bed!

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  19. Dear holler. I am exactly the same with my recipe books - bedtime reading and wishful thinking. I keep thinking that I've lost my cooking mojo because of small kitchen and lack of available ingredients in Ukraine. However, my friend pointed me towards this Zimbabwean cooking blog... if she can cook in the dire circumstances there, then I have no excuse not to pick out a few recipes to try out!

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  20. That does sound like a delicious soup! Also I just happened to try a Jaffrey recipe recently as well--good timing!

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  21. Anything Indian flavored and I am smitten... I just had some for lunch. This soup looks wonderful, Holler. I'll have to check out her book from the library and try some of her recipes.

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  22. I love her books, they're really great.

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  23. Absolutely delicious, I never made tomato soup like this. I am sure I am gonna like curried style, because I like anything spicy.
    Cheers,
    Elra

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  24. This looks very, very good! Especially for as cold as it's been here lately! Thanks for the idea! Yummy :)

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  25. I love madhur's recipes. All the ones I have tried have come out really good. This one sounds delicious. & I have to admit I am in love with that spoon!

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  26. I think I agree about the sour cream or yogurt as an alternative to cream - depends how indulgent you like to be, I guess!

    Lovely sounding recipe, though - typical of Madhur, who's definitely one of my food heroes! Her recipes have never let me down yet.

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  27. Cream and curry, what a heatwarming combination for these cold wintry days Holler.

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  28. I know you are teasing Tadmack, very funny, although it does look a bit like it has befallen that fate!

    You are making me wonder if this is a honey spoon now Lorraine. Hmmm!

    Hi Diann, I think it is so hard to buckle down to recipes from books because we are always brimming over with things to try and things we have seen. Too few hours in the day, I think!

    That's true Johanna, I will just have to taste it nude next time and have some yoghurt or sour cream at the ready.

    I am glad it is not just me Apples :)

    No excuse Little Miss Moi ;) It is nice to speak to you again :)

    I will head over to your blog to see if you have posted it Mike :)

    I am a great fan of the cookery section in my library too Alexa, I have a Barefoot Contessa book on order just now.

    She is good Vegan About Town and this book is just a bit different from her others. Well worth a try.

    Hi Elra, I find myself adding spices to my soups more and more these days, it does perk them up and make for a fuller flavour.

    Glad you like it Jo :)

    Hi Soma, the spoon is a regular on my blog and everyone loves it.

    Don't get me wrong, it was nice with the cream Spaghetti, but I would just prefer it a little lighter.

    Hi Val, I think these cold days are the very reason I was drawn to the recipe in the first place :)

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  29. Glad you are having success cooking from your books Holler, I had vowed to do the same this year but getting mixed results so far...

    Soup looks lovely, perfect for a cold wintery evening!

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  30. Hi Anne, I think the problem for me will be organised enough to go to the supermarket with a list of needed ingredients for a cookbook recipe and not just making it up as I wander around. That is always what trips me up.

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  31. I love soups and this looks perfect!

    I love your twirly spoon ;o)

    Maria
    x

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  32. I love soups. Helps me to control my diet. I am going to try this one but not so sure about whether I will like a lot of cream in my soup. Thanks anyway for the recipe.

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x