purple soup

     When you join a CSA you agree that you get what the farmer gives you. Type A's beware. Throw your shopping lists out the window. I didn't know how to work this purple cabbage from the winter so it share sat in my fridge for a few days weeks, and all I could think of was soup. Cabbage soup? Boring. Cabbage Fennel Soup with Ginger Anise and Black Mustard Seeds. Delicious! And the color! What a color! 

Purple Cabbage Fennel Soup with Ginger Anise and Fennel Seeds

1 Small Purple Cabbage, chopped

1 Fennel Bulb, chopped

1 Onion, chopped

1 inch grated ginger

1 tsp anise seeds

1 tsp black mustard seeds

Enough Water or vegetable broth to cover

Salt and Pepper

Heat olive oil in a pan. Add anise and black mustard seeds. When they pop add onions and ginger. Add cabbage and fennel. Sautee a few minutes then add water or enough vegetable broth to cover. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then simmer until cabbage and fennel are soft. Puree. Serve warm. 

CAULIFLOWER CASHEW ANISE SOUP

    I am not really a cook book person. I have this thing about having too many books, so I usually either take my cook books out of the library and make photo copies of recipes or when I need a quick recipe I look in Grandma's tin, online or I just freestyle it. A little onion and garlic is the start of something special every time.

    I got Padma Lakshmi's Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet cook book from a Secret Santa one year (Thank You Dasha!) and I didn't open it for a while, but when I did, it was like an entire new world of Indian flavors opening up to me. Now I am no longer scared to sautee cumin seeds, make chutneys and grate ginger into everything. 

   A while back I made this excellent Sauteed Cauliflower with Anise and Cashews from the cook book. Cashews for the record are not my favorite nut, but with a little heat and spice they come alive. And now its soup season and Cauliflower Soup is an all time favorite, so I experimented with adapting this recipe for pureed soup. I am very satisfied with it. The smooth cauliflower texture combined with the crunchy ground cashews is remarkable on the taste buds. 

  Try it. Its such simple revamp for Cauliflower Soup.

Original Recipe from Padma Lakshmi's Tangy Tart Hot and Sweet:

Sauteed Cauliflower with Anise and Cashews

2 to 3 TBSP canola oil

1 tsp anise seed

3 or 4 long dry chilies

1 C diced shallots

1 1/2 TBSP minced ginger

2 1/4 lb Cauliflower broken into small florets

1/2 tsp salt

1 C cashews

1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. When it is hot, add the anise seeds and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Roughly break up the chilies, add them to the anise seeds and stir. After 5 minutes, add the shallots, ginger, and cauliflower. Add 1/2 C. of water and salt and stir. Cook for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the cashews and cook for an additional 10 minutes or so uncovered, until all the moisture is gone, stirring occasionally. The cauliflower will reduce greatly in size and should have some charred brown bits at the edges. The cashews should also be toasted brown. SERVES 4-6

Cauliflower Cashew and Anise Soup 

    I wanted to get the flavor of the browned cauliflower and cashews so I basically followed the recipe exactly with a few modifications before I turned it into soup. I used olive oil obviously instead of canola oil and I used peperoncino instead of the hot chilies. I also added some ground nutmeg for fun. I followed the recipe then added enough water to cover the cauliflower plus a vegetable bouillon. I diced up a red potato, skin on, and added that for thickness and depth. I simmered it for about 15 minutes, then I pureed it with the hand blender. What a tool! I served it with fresh cilantro which really took it to another level flavor wise.

BEET GINGER SOUP

    I got some fresh beets from the CSA and made this fantastic Beet Ginger Soup. The hand mixing got VERY messy. I ruined a shirt and good thing I have freckles to hide the red splatter on my face and neck! Going number one after a large amount of beets is always interesting. There's the panic, "why is my pee bloody?!?!" then the calm down, "oh, i just ate some beets!"

BEET GINGER SOUP

Warning: Wear protective goggles and a bib!

1 bunch of medium beets, peeled and quartered

1 small onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 inch of ginger grated, about 1-2 TBSP (adjust to your taste, I go overboard on ginger)

1 C. of chicken or vegetable broth

2 fresh thyme sprigs

2 TBSP butter (optional)

Sautee the onions, garlic, ginger and thyme in olive oil. After a few minutes add the beets and sautee for a few more minutes. Salt and Pepper. Add the broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until the beets are soft. Puree with a hand mixer or in the blender, but be careful! Return to pot and bring back to a simmer and add the butter, letting it melt in. If you want to add cream, this would be the right time as well. Serve warm or cold garnished with a fresh sprig of thyme.