Indian Spiced Corn Soup With Yogurt Food

INDIAN-SPICED CORN SOUP WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Put butter in a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds and cayenne and sizzle for a minute or so.
• Add corn kernels and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add 4 cups water and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Purée soup in a blender. Check seasoning and adjust salt.
• To serve, ladle into small bowls. Garnish each with 2 tablespoons thick yogurt. Sprinkle with chives and cilantro sprigs. Add a squeeze of lime.

INDIAN SPICED CARROT SOUP WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Grind coriander and mustard seeds in a spice mill to a fine powder. Heat oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground seeds and curry powder; stir 1 minute. Add the ginger; stir 1 minute. Add the next 3 ingredients. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; sauté until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add 5 cups broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until the carrots are tender, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Working in batches, purée in a blender until smooth. Return the soup to the pot. Add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if too thick. Stir in the lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with yogurt and serve.
• Do Ahead
• The SOUP can be made 1 day ahead through step 2. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Reheat before serving.

SPICED BROWN LENTILS WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and water in a medium soup pot or heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add salt to taste (under-salt slightly because you will be reducing the liquid), and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, until the lentils are falling apart tender and fragrant. Remove the onion and garlic and discard.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spices and stir as they sizzle for about 30 seconds, until very fragrant. Add the beans with their liquid and cook, stirring and mashing with the back of a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, like refried beans. Add salt to taste, once the mixture has reduced to the desired consistency. Spoon onto plates and top each serving with a generous spoonful of yogurt and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro.

CREAMY INDIAN YOGURT SOUP

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir jalapeno peppers, ginger, and garlic in the hot oil until the garlic is soft and the oil is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Stir yogurt, chili powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin, garam masala, and salt together in a Dutch oven; warm gently over low heat. Fold oil mixture into the yogurt mixture, remove from heat, and top with cilantro.