Taste of India

We are reaching the end of another successful year here at Soup Connection. There have been a lot of GREAT soups prepared and distributed and we are excited to introduce a NEW soup for this last week! Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas & Quinoa is a great combination of textures and flavors, and embraces Indian Cuisine.

Indian Cuisine

What is the first thing you think of when you hear Indian Cuisine? For many of you, curry may have been the first thing that popped into your mind! It is true, curry is a popular Indian dish, especially here in North America, but Indian cuisine extends far beyond curry. Indian cuisine is characterized by its diversity and rich flavors, and has an inherent history influenced by culture and religion. Indian cuisine dates all the way back to 7000 BC and has since evolved with the introduction of new foods, and the influence of surrounding cultures. Indian cuisine in 7000 BC was limited to sesame, eggplant, and cattle, but now it is known for its wide use of a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices.

Staple Indian Grains

Indian cuisine is centered around rice, atta (whole wheat flour), and a variety of pulses. You may be wondering what in the world a pulse is? A pulse is simply the edible seeds of various legumes. A common pulse used in Indian cuisine is red lentils!

Spices

Indian cuisine includes a plethora of spices! Of those spices cumin, ginger, and curry (which is actually a mixture of spices) are among some of the most common.

Cumin is an aromatic plant, which originated in the Mediterranean region. With its strong smell and slightly bitter flavor, cumin will leave your senses awakened. Since cumin is so powerful, it is a good idea to use it sparingly until your senses are adjusted. Nonetheless, cumin is a great way to add pizazz to soups, vegetables, meat, legumes, breads, and a variety of other foods. 

 

Tip: Crush and roast cumin seeds to release their flavor.Buying: Buy whole cumin seeds if able, as they will have more flavor than the ground seed and keep for a longer time.

Ginger is a tuber, which originated from a plant in Southeast Asia. Like cumin, ginger is highly aromatic. Ginger has a peppery flavor and depending on the tuber, can be very hot. Fresh ginger can be used to add a spice of flavor to sauces, poultry, fish, and rice. Ground ginger is great to add to cakes and cookies.

Tip: For maximum flavor, add ginger at the end of cooking.Buying: Choose fresh, firm ginger that isn’t shriveled. If skin scratches   off easily, it should be fresh

Curry is actually a mix of spices. It typically includes cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, pepper, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, all of which are common spices in Indian culture. The amount of pepper or chili pepper added to the mixture determines how hot it is. Curry can be used to season meat, soups, vegetables, pasta dishes, rice, and sauces.

Tip: Heat curry powder in oil before adding to a dish or sauce to bring out its flavor.

Make it a Meal

This week at Soup Connection Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas & Quinoa will be served alongside a tasty loaf of sourdough bread. To refresh your senses, after experiencing the spices from the soup, try adding sliced cucumber with a dollop of plain yogurt.

Spices can also be added to fruit to add a flavorful kick! Try the recipe below for a new way to use your spices!

Enjoy and check out our fun video below, which is all about spices!