Saturday, November 13, 2010

Chickpea, sweet potato & spinach soup

Again borrowed from Dec 2010 issue of Cycling Plus

Olive oil
1 onion (sliced)
2 sweet potatoes (cubed)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
2cm ginger (grated)
1tsp dry-fried & crushed cumin seeds
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4tsp mustard powder
400g tinned chickpeas
half tin tomatoes
1 tsp honey
1 litre veg stock
200g spinach leaves

Fry onion in olive oil for a couple of mins then add potato, garlic, ginger and fry for a minute or so.
Add cumin, cinnamon, cayenne & mustard powder, cook for 30 secs
Add chickpeas, tomatoes & honey, cook for couple of mins, stirring.
Add stock, simmer for 10 mins
Blend
Add spinach and cook for another minute
Serve.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Leek, bacon & watercress soup

Based on a recipe in the December 2010 issue of Cycling Plus

Knob of butter
Olive oil
2 large leeks (chopped)
1 potato (diced)
Lots of watercress
500ml chicken stock
Few rashers of bacon
1 pint milk
Crème fraiche
Nutmeg
Salt & pepper

Heat oil & butter in a large pan.
Add leeks & bacon and sauté for 5 mins.
Add potato and stock, simmer until potato cooked
Add watercress, half the milk and simmer until watercress wilted
Blend with a hand blender, If too thick then add more milk
Season to taste, serve with a grating of nutmeg, some crème fraiche and crusty bread