Fragrant Vegetables Food

THAI FRAGRANT VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan, heat garlic in oil until fragrant; add broth, soy sauce, fish sauce, cabbage, carrots, celery, mushrooms, lemongrass, and chilies.
• Bring mixture to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Adjust seasonings for soy sauce, and fish sauce; then add lime juice and basil; serve.
• Note: As an option you may also add cooked chicken, cooked beef or pork, or raw shrimp to this soup at the end of cooking; for shrimp, just allow enough time for them to turn opaque and curl tight; for meat, just heat through.

FRAGRANT CHICKEN SOUP WITH CHICKPEAS AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot over high heat. Add onion and salt and sauté until limp, 3 minutes. Add all spices and sauté until they release their fragrance, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté another minute, until darkened but not burned. (If tomato paste looks too dark too quickly, lower heat.)
• Add celery, turnip and sweet potato and continue to sauté until celery starts to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Return heat to high if you lowered it, and add broth to pot. Bring to a simmer, then add chicken. Partially cover pot, lower heat to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add chickpeas and cilantro to pot and continue simmering until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in the lemon juice and more salt if desired, and serve garnished with cilantro and lemon wedges.

ROOT VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook until beginning to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cinnamon, ginger, coriander and turmeric, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spices are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the stock, squash, carrots, tomatoes and their juices, and lemon peel. Stir to release any spice bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the vegetables are almost tender and break easily with a spoon, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Stir in the chickpeas, raisins and honey and simmer, covered, until the chickpeas are warmed through and the raisins are plump, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, prepare the couscous: Bring the stock to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Combine the couscous, lemon zest and salt in a large bowl; pour the boiling stock on top. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap to steam, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and stir in the parsley.
• Divide the herbed couscous among the bowls and spoon the warm tagine on top. Sprinkle generously with pomegranate seeds and parsley or cilantro, and serve with lemon wedges on the side, for squeezing over.

FRAGRANT CHICKEN SOUP WITH CHICKPEAS AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot over high heat. Add onion and salt and sautéuntil limp, about 3 minutes. Add all spices and sauté until they release their fragrance, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté for another minute, until darkened but not burned. (If tomato paste looks too dark too quickly, lower heat.).
• Add celery, turnip and sweet potato and continue to sauté until celery starts to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Return heat to high (if you lowered it), and add broth to pot. Bring to a simmer, then add chicken. Partially cover pot, lower heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add chickpeas and cilantro to pot and continue simmering until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in the lemon juice and more salt if desired.
• Garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon wedge and serve.