Mulligatawny soup is a British-Indian fusion dish that is quite popular item in many Indian restaurants even in the US. The first time I saw it on the menu, I couldn’t even pronounce the name properly. Actually, I have never tried it at any restaurant because most of them don’t serve a vegetarian option. But I was always intrigued on what it was and how it was made.
What is Mulligatawny Soup?
It is an English version of a South Indian soup from Tamil Nadu. Milagu means pepper and thanni means water – so this soup literally means ‘pepper water’. Don’t ask me how ‘milagu thanni’ ended up being Mulligatawny soup!! Well apparently the soup became popular with the British stationed in India during the colonial times, in the late 18th century. So when they returned home, they brought back the recipe with them to England. This is a rich curried soup originally made with peppers and hence the name. It was adapted to suit the Western palate and the ingredients available.
Ingredients:
Traditionally mulligatawny soup is made with chicken stock and is flavored with curry powder. Chicken, onion, celery, apple and veggies are the usual ingredients in the soup. Coconut milk or cream is added to make the soup creamy. To make my mulliagatawny soup vegan, I used red lentils to give enough body and make it hearty. Adding Chickpeas with the lentils will amp up the protein. Coconut Milk adds creaminess and slight sweetness that balances the curry powder. Pick all or a few of the below veggies to add to the soup:
Onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies - these are the aromatics that add flavor to the dish.PotatoCarrotTomato
Add any other veggie that you have in the fridge cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, green peas etc are all good options.
Instructions:
Using a pressure cooker/ Instant pot to make this soup saves a lot of time and the recipe will be done under 30 minutes. Here’s how to make the soup in the Instant Pot.
Taste test:
This soup is filling by itself with the veggies and lentil, but serve it with rice or bread to make it a complete meal. More Lentil soups here – Morrocan Red Lentil soup and Indian Style Red Lentil soup. Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 85.
