Broccoli Green Garlic Coconut Cashew Soup … firm favourite! #glutenfree #vegan

Broccoli Green Garlic Coconut Cashew Soup! If someone had asked me a couple of months ago which my favourite soup was, it would probably have been the carrot orange, perhaps the mushroom rosemary or the pumpkin green garlic turmeric soup.

I would have NEVER expected this Broccoli Green Garlic Coconut Cashew Soup to top my list, yet that’s just what happened! So I just had to share this smooth, silky, creamy soup with you, my shout out for #veganuary.
​#vegan & #glutenfree​​​.

While we’ve always loved broccoli at home, steamed, stir fried, tossed in salads or just butter, perhaps Ottolenghi’s chargrilled version, soup and broccoli were never on my horizon. This was something I never wanted to do!

Then just a few days all I had on hand was broccoli. Winter evening supper is just a whole lot easier if there’s soup and crusty bread, preferably slathered with garlic butter. Talking about garlic, that is one ingredient that I always have on hand.

I use copious amounts of garlic and it practically finds itself in every savoury dish I make. With green garlic abundantly available in winter in North India, I ALWAYS have a large bunch in the fridge. It just makes me very happy and I use it with gay abandon!

And that is how this soup came to be. As usual, for me, a soup should be quick and simple to make. I use my staple pantry ingredients and I find shortcuts to everything. Here too, a quick glug of extra virgin olive oil, burnt garlic, onion, broccoli, paprika, cashews was all it took. Some water, steam the veggies in my Fujihoro saucepan, then coconut milk, simmer, puree, done!

I think coconut milk is the best thing ever! I always have some in my pantry and it makes the soup creamiest best! Add cashews to the equation and the soup screams SILKY too!!!

For a nut free version, just skip the cashews, but please make it. It’s quite the comfort food that’s warmed us this winter!​  Don’t forget to reserve some crisp fried garlic bits and cashews to top the bowls!

I love how pretty the garnish looks in this Mauviel 1930 copperware dish. That copperware pairs beautifully with all my old copper in this frame, and just like loads of garlic, loads of copper makes me happy too!

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Broccoli Green Garlic Coconut Cashew Soup ... firm favourite! #glutenfree #vegan

Broccoli Green Garlic Coconut Cashew Soup... smooth, silky, creamy soup with you, my shout out for #veganuary. It's #vegan & #glutenfree. For a nut free version, just skip the cashews, but please make it. It's quite the comfort food that's warmed us this winter!
Keyword gluten free, glutenfree, homemade, no bake, soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 200g small head broccoli broken into pieces, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2-3 stalks garlic greens chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic sliced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt
  • 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
  • 300ml coconut milk
  • 1 Juice of 1 lime

Instructions

  • Heat extra virgin olive oil. Fry garlic until brown & fragrant. Reserve a few slices for garnish. Add onion and garlic greens, sauté for 5 mins.
  • Add broccoli, cashews, salt, smoked sweet paprika, stir well. Cover and cook on medium high for 5 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup of water and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
  • Add 300ml coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered.
  • Blend until smooth and return to pan. Add the juice of a lime. Taste and adjust seasoning if required.
  • Serve with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and crisp garlic slices.

Salted Caramel Layered Cake … indulgent & how!

Salted Caramel Layered Cake… a small break from chocolate and the cake turned out everything I expected it to be. Rich, luscious, creamy, satisfying; in one word INDULGENT!

New research has revealed that there is a scientific reason you can’t stop eating salted caramel, and no, it’s not just because you’re greedy. …{read more}

As I’ve said before, it’s always dangerous to have a batch of salted caramel ready. Ooooh the things that can happen but I’m not complaining. The flavours in this cake were intensely salted caramel & very enjoyable.

The Salted Caramel Layered Cake is a great departure from chocolate and is addictively good! Make it a day ahead so the flavours mature well. Also, it’s worth paying attention to the drip of salted caramel on the frosting. It should be at room temperature and pourable.

The taste of the cake improves as it sits, yet the only drawback is that it gets over too soon!

Pretty too, thanks to the drizzle of salted caramel & the prettiest edible flower that @sugardaddybakes made. It just finished off the cake so well!

Catch me on Instagram if you’re there. 

Do tag me on passionateaboutbaking on Instagram if you try a recipe, or follow me if you like! I’d love to connect with you.

 

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Salted Caramel Layered Cake ... indulgent & how!

The flavours in this cake were intensely salted caramel & very enjoyable. The Salted Caramel Layered Cake a great departure from chocolate and is addictively good!
Keyword baking, dessert, homemade, sweet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

Caramel Cake

  • 2 x 8" cakes
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/4 light olive oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 sceaped vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup caramel
  • 1 cup buttermilk room temperature

Filling & base coat

  • 250 g whipping cream chilled
  • 100 g unsalted butter room temperature
  • 50 g icing sugar
  • 100 g mascarpone cream room temperature
  • 50 g caramel room temperature

Salted Caramel Whipped Frosting

  • 200 g whipping cream chilled milk
  • 50 g caramel room temperature
  • 75-100 g icing sugar
  • 100 g mascarpone room temperature

Instructions

Caramel cakes 2 X 8" cakes

  • Preheat the oven to 180C. Line the base & sides with parchment.
  • In a bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking powder & baking soda. Reserve.
  • In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, whisk butter & sugar until fluffy. Whisk in oil, then add eggs one by one, followed by the scraped vanilla bean and extract, then finally the salted caramel.
  • In 3 alternative lots, on lowest setting, fold in the flour mix & buttermilk, 1/3 rd at a time, ending with the buttermilk.
  • Divide between the 2 tins, and bake for about 30-35 minutes, until tester comes out clean.
  • Remove to cooling racks, and take out of tins. Cool completely on racks, then slice each into 2.

Filling and crumb coat

  • Whip the cream and butter with the icing sugar until stiff.
  • Whip in the salted caramel, then the mascarpone until just blended & smooth. Don't overmix.

Caramel Whipped Frosting

  • Whip the cream with the icing sugar until stiff.
  • Whip in the salted caramel, then the mascarpone just until mixed through. Don't overmix.

Assemble

  • Sandwich the layers with 1/4 th of the filling, using the last 1/4 for the crumb coat. Cover and chill for an hour, or overnight.
  • Frost the cake with the Salted Caramel Whipped Frosting, and pour any remaining salted caramel over the edges. Make sure the salted caramel is at room temperature and pourable.

Pumpkin Green Garlic Turmeric Soup …comfort for these cold days

Pumpkin Green Garlic Turmeric Soup … another winner for us at home, soup just like we love. Thick, hearty, bursting with earthy flavours and oh-so-satisfying. If you belong to the hearty, earthy soup club, this is for you.

If however you like broth like soup, thin this one out, add some blanched vegetables, maybe noodles and make it a meal! That’s just the beauty of soup, so easily adaptable, just so simple overall.

This Pumpkin Green Garlic Turmeric Soup is yet another one which includes two favourite winter ingredients, green garlic as well as fresh turmeric root. Green garlic elevates the garlicky flavour beautifully, adding fresh notes to whatever you add it too.

Fresh turmeric root on the other hand is an underlying flavour, yet adds immense health benefits to any dish. We are quite lucky to get fresh turmeric root the year through. So it’s in soups all winter, and in my smoothies the year round.

And how could I forget the humble pumpkin, the base of my soup, the heart of this bowl? The pumpkin or peela kaddu is unique because it takes well to both sweet & savoury dishes. It’s great roasted, or stir fried, and even surprisingly good in this fast tracked ‘lazy’ soup. It’s another vegetable we get the year around, so I’m thinking cold pumpkin soup for summer perhaps?

What is your favourite soup? Mine are currently all vegetarian soups, because I love them. You can always throw in chopped sausages, leftover roasted chicken etc to add more protein to yours!

Catch me on Instagram if you’re there. 

Do tag me on  passionateaboutbaking on Instagram if you try a recipe, or follow me if you like! I’d love to connect with you.

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Pumpkin Green Garlic Turmeric Soup

Pumpkin Green Garlic Turmeric Soup Winter means endless soups. Here's another soup today, one which has two favourite ingredients- green garlic & turmeric. Oh, make it three - pumpkin too!! Serve with stir fried broccoli with garlic & sesame seeds, a crusty bread perhaps!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 200 g pumpkin /peela kaddu chopped
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 5-6 stalks green garlic chopped
  • 5-6 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1/2" piece fresh turmeric chopped
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp ghee or evoo/coconut oil
  • 1 tsp adobo chili sauce
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • Salt to taste
  • 250 ml coconut milk
  • 1/2 - 1 large fresh red chili
  • Juice of 1 lime

Instructions

  • Heat ghee. Add pumpkin and Saute on high until beginning to caramelise. Add both garlic, onion, turmeric and sugar
  • Cook.on high, stirring often until.pumpkin softens.
  • Add stock, salt, chili sauce and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes. Puree and return to pan.
  • Add slit large red chili, coconut milk and juice of lime. Taste and adjust seasoning and consistency if required.
  • Drizzle over evoo. Garnish with crisp lotus stem chips and fresh herbs etc.

Carrot Orange Turmeric Soup … staying warm this winter!

Carrot Orange Turmeric Soup for cold winter days as these. They say we’re experiencing the coldest winter in North India in decades & so that calls for endless soups, stews & hot chocolate! I’m trying my hand at things I’ve never made before & this brightly coloured delicious soup is one of them.

This Carrot Orange Turmeric Soup is almost stupidly simple yet packs quite a punch! It also has some of my favourite ingredients like garlic greens & fresh turmeric.

I do love soups like these that require literally no work but still taste and look like a million bucks! This one is silky smooth too!

I despised soups as a kid. Soup at home was the usual suspect – either a tomato soup , else bone broth. That put me off for a while because it was like a chore spooning the same predictable soup time after time. Add butter or croutons to them, but the same uniform taste remained.

“There is nothing like soup. It is by nature eccentric: no two are ever alike, unless of course you get your soup in a can.” Laurie Colwin

Cut to now. Life is more interesting and it’s easy to find inspiration. A couple of other favourite soups on the blog is this earthy Mushroom Cashew Rosemary Soup and the Quick Tomato Coconut Soup Also, a food blog is perpetually hungry, & I’m trying to keep this one well fed for now at least!

What’s your favourite soup? I’d love to hear.

Catch me on Instagram if you’re there. Do tag me on  passionateaboutbaking on Instagram if you try a recipe, or follow me if you like! I’d love to connect with you.

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Carrot Orange Turmeric Soup

This Carrot Orange Turmeric Soup is almost stupidly simple yet packs quite a punch! It also has some of my favourite ingredients like garlic greens & fresh turmeric.
Keyword eggless, gluten free, no bake, soup
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp clarified butter/ghee {optional}
  • 3 carrots sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic sliced
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • garlic greens chopped
  • 1/2 inch piece "fresh turmeric
  • 1 cup vegetable stock/ or water { I use the water I blanch beans/broccoli in}
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • Juice of 1/2 orange

Instructions

  • Sauté all the vegetables in 1 tbsp ghee + evoo for 5 minutes until lightly coloured & fragrant.
  • Add the stock / water, orange zest and salt to taste.
  • Simmer until carrots are soft. Blend until smooth.
  • Squeeze in juice of 1/2 an orange. Adjust the thickness as desired. Reheat gently before serving.
  • Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and scatter over roasted pumpkin, melon seeds etc.

Silky Deep Hot Chocolate …just right for winter!

Silky Deep Hot Chocolate… because it’s freezing outside! We’ve been hit by a cold wave up in North India and all you need is this to soothe the soul, to comfort it and to uplift your spirits!

“Life is like a box of chocolates―you never know what you’re going to get.” Forest Gump

As you know, chocolate is one of my most favourite ingredients to work with. Style & shoot as well! I’m also really happy to say that I’ve finally signed up with Penguin Random House to write a cookbook …

And you guessed it, it’s going to be around CHOCOLATE! As I get down to working on it, you’ll see plenty of chocolate inspiration popping up now & then.

Here’s a Silky Deep Hot Chocolate to get things stirred up! ENJOY!!

Catch me on Instagram if you’re there. Do tag me on  passionateaboutbaking on Instagram if you try a recipe, or follow me if you like! I’d love to connect with you.

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Silky Deep Hot Chocolate

Silky Deep Hot Chocolate.. Just perfect for these days of freezing weather! You're going to love this simple no brainer hot chocolate recipe that's sure to warm your soul.
Keyword chocolate, eggless, glutenfree, homemade, no bake, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp cornflour
  • 100 g dark couverture chocolate 72%
  • 500 ml milk
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

Instructions

  • Mix all the ingredients EXCEPT CHOCOLATE in by heavy bottom saucepan, and place over low flame. Whisk well, stir constantly.
  • Once it gets to a simmering boil, stir until it becomes creamy & thick. Add the chocolate & simmer until the chocolate has melted. Enjoy
  • Fun fact: Make a big batch, refrigerate it, then reheat just before serving. Give it a dash of bourbon, kahlua or red wine if you like, but do make it

Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles… perfect for the dessert platter, for gifting this season!

Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles … dried prunes soaked in fresh orange juice with a dash of zest, toasted walnuts, crystallised ginger powder, then a sprinkling of Grand Marnier; and we have these little beauties. Perfect for the dessert platter, for gifting too. Also, they are vegetarian & gluten free & SUPER EASY to make.

When Zoe talked about Caprunes recently, I remembered dark chocolate prune truffles I had made ages ago. It was definitely time to make them again, and this time they seem even better. How could I have forgotten this goodness!

So I made a batch yesterday, made them simpler than earlier, added some festive flavour & couldn’t stop eating the ‘dough’ as it chilled. That good!

They are pretty darned good just rolled twice over in good quality cocoa powder, but I had sprinkles & dragees sitting on the counter, so some dressing up happened. I have to say I really enjoyed doing this!

Absolutely love these red & green Wilton dragees I picked up from Michaels in NY a few weeks ago. They are so versatile & fun!

I’ve used them so much in my kitchen this winter. They are perfect for just about everything Christmas & festive like the cookies above, and worked so well especially on these Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles.

Sharing the recipe for the Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles on the blog this evening so you can quickly rustle up a few too. Since they need few ingredients, make sure you use the best quality!

Fun fact: Prunes pack a powerful punch of important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. How do you use prunes in your recipes?

Oh, also made a quick batch of Stove Top Cinnamon Walnut Granola this morning. It’s just fab for this time of the year especially. Let me know if you’d like the recipe.

Catch me on Instagram if you’re there. Do tag me on  passionateaboutbaking on Instagram if you try a recipe, or follow me if you like! I’d love to connect with you.

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Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles

Dark Chocolate Prune Orange Truffles... dried prunes soaked in fresh orange juice with a dash of zest, finely chopped toasted walnuts {optional}, a dash of crystallised ginger powder, then a sprinkle of Grand Marnier ... & we have these little beauties. Perfect for the dessert platter, also gifting this season. better still, they are vegetarian & gluten free & EASY to make.
Keyword chocolate, dessert, eggless, fruit, gluten free, glutenfree, homemade, no bake, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 hour 6 minutes
Servings 12 truffles

Ingredients

  • 100 grams dark chocolate, 72% broken into pieces, room temperature
  • 100 ml low fat / single cream Amul
  • 100 grams pitted prunes/dried plums
  • 3 tbsp fresh orange juice
  • Zest of 1/2 orange
  • 1 tbsp crystallized ginger powder
  • 50 g toasted walnuts finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp Grand Marnier optional
  • Cocoa powder chocolate sprinkles, dragees, finely chopped walnuts, grated chocolate etc to decorate

Instructions

  • Place prunes, orange juice & zest in a bowl. Leave overnight to soak, else microwave for a minute. Stand for at least 30 minutes.
  • Heat cream in a heatproof bowl in the microwave for one minute. Add chocolate, stir & allow to stand for 15-20 minutes. Stir and repeat if required. Heat for 30 second intervals if required. Stir until smooth
  • Place prunes with any remaining liquid and 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate mix in a hand chopper {or blender} and process until blended. I used a small hand chopper.
  • Add back to bowl with melted chocolate with chopped toasted walnuts and ginger powder. Stir well with a spatula to mix.
  • Refrigerate for an hour or so until firm enough to roll into balls.
  • Drop teaspoonfuls, one at a time into cocoa powder {or sprinkles etc} shake to coat and roll into balls. Chill until firm, then toss in cocoa powder once again.
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