Beetroot Soup

Second day of Blogging Marathon, and a Soup - Chettinad style, for the Menu.
The cuisine of Chettinad has evolved because of interaction with other cultures. One of the culinary delicacies is the 'Soup' - a thin and spicy (not chilli spicy) broth. It has its place at home, get togethers and Wedding Feasts.
Vegetables add special fervour to the dish. Beetroot lends a lovely colour along with nutrition to the soup. At lunchtime, we have it mixed with rice with accompaniments like masala or a spicy poriyal - a wholesome and light meal.

Ingredients:

Beetroot - 1(medium sized)

Onion - 1, sliced

Tomato - 2 small, chopped

Green Chillies - 3, slit

Moong Dal - 2 - 3 Tbsp

Turmerric Pd - 1 pinch(optional)

Salt to taste

Seasoning:
Oil - 1 Tbsp

Urad Dal - 1/4 tsp

Jeera - 1/2 tsp

Peppercorns - 1/4 tsp

Saunf - 1/4 tsp

Bay Leaf - 1

Cardamom - 1

Poppy Seeds - 1/2 tsp

Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Corriander Leaves - 2 Tbsp

Method:

Soak the dal in just enough water for 10 minutes.

Cook in 3 cups water with turmerric powder and 1/4 tsp oil.

Peel the beetroot and cut into short fingers. Slice onions and chop tomatoes.

Chop Corriander leaves.

Take all the seasoning ingredients in a plate.

Heat oil in a pressure cooker/pan.

Add seasoning ingredients and saute for 1 minute.

Add onions and saute until pink. Then, add tomatoes and beetroot.

Stir fry on high flame for a couple of minutes.

Add in simmering dal and salt to taste.

Cover Pr. Cooker/Pan and cook for 2 whistles. Reduce flame and cook for 5 minutes.

Allow pressure to subside and then open cooker.

Adjust taste by adding salt / lemon juice.

Strain the soup. Fish out the beet pieces and add to the soup. (This is only if you want a clear soup)

Serve Hot.

Here are my fellow bloggers in the marathon with yummy wonderous treats - Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Kamalika, Mina, Padma, Pavani, PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Priya Vasu, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Srivalli, Suma, Usha, Veena