TOMATO-CARROT SOUP...DELICATELY FLAVOURED WITH STAR ANISE

"Men are like soup: you always want to have one on the back burner, just in case."
Unattributed feminist quote

Tomato-Carrot Soup with Star Anise

Tried my hand at a tomato-carrot soup this morning, flavoured delicately with a spice that has intrigued me endlessly over the past few days. None other than the pretty star anise ! A nice & gentle vegetarian soup, beautifully flavoured & great for the winter chill that has descended upon us. This is an adaptation of a soup my mother makes almost everyday in the winter months.Star Anise...the pretty spice!

Star anise plays a key role in the slow cooked dishes that characterize Eastern Chinese cuisine. Its licorice flavor enhances red cooked dishes. It is also the secret ingredient in many Indian stews and curries. And yes...literally...'No croutons required'!!

Ingredients:

Tomatoes - 8-10 medium / quartered
Carrots - 2 / chopped roughly
Onion - 1 / quartered
Garlic - 2 cloves
Red Lentil (Masoor dal) - 1 tbsp (optional/I add it to increase food value)
Star anise - 2 flowers
Salt to taste
Butter - 1 tbsp
Freshly ground white pepper

Method:

• Put all the vegetables + lentils + star anise in a cooker or pan with salt & about 2 cups of water.
• Cook until soft.
• Remove the star anise (reserve for garnishing if you like) & run the soup in a blender . Strain.
• Take some butter in a pan & saute the white pepper for a minute. Turn the soup into the pan & simmer till it comes to a boil. Serve with a drizzle of cream & freshly ground pepper.

Warm soup for the soul...pipe a heart on top & you're all set for V-day!!

'No Croutons Required' a new monthly food blogging event alternately hosted by Lisa's Kitchen and Tinned Tomatoes. Each month the host will invite bloggers around the world to submit a vegetarian soup or salad recipe, sometimes with a theme, sometimes not. The theme for February is simply vegetarian soups...which fits me in quite warmly! My entry's on its way...