Kid's Soup -- Cream of Broccolli & Buttermilk Spinach

Soup is one more way to get vegetables in your kid's diet. You can serve them with bread or add pasta, rice, chicken, fish etc. to make a whole meal out of it. Try it!

Cream of Broccolli
Ingredients
2 tsp. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
1 small white onion (very finely chopped)
2 tbsp. fresh mint (minced)
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. salt
2 cup broccoli florets (roughly chopped)
3,4 cups water (or vegetable or chicken broth)
1/2 cup whipped cream
2 tsp. lime juice (optional)
croutons for garnish

Method
· In a pan heat oil and butter over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low-medium and add mint and onion. Sauté for few minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water, salt and sauté till onion becomes transparent.
· Add broccoli and sauté for five minutes. Add water or broth, and simmer over medium heat for 20,30 minutes till broccoli is completely done.
· Let it cool for some time and puree it using a food processor.
· Mix in whipping cream and lime juice. Garnish croutons and serve warm.

You can use lot of other vegetables like beet, cauliflower, squash, carrot etc.
You can serve this soup with a nice toasted bread or boiled pasta and cheese.

Tips:

· Butter burns very fast even at medium temperature. Adding oil to butter increases the smoking point while preserving the flavor of the butter in the dish.
· Adding little water to onion reduces the pan's temperature little bit. It evaporates fast, so onion sautés well and does not caramelize.
· Adding salt to onion while sautéing also brings out the moisture and helps it not caramelize.


Buttermilk Spinach soup

Ingredients
1 bunch spinach
2 pinches asafetida
1 tsp. oil
3/4 cup yogurt
1 tsp. salt
1 green chili (optional)
1/2 cup cilantro (tightly packed)
1 to 2 cups water

Method
· Clean and wash spinach. Cut off the stem ends but leave the stems on.
· In a pan heat oil. Add asafetida. When the aroma is released, add spinach and sauté over medium heat till it is wilted. Remove from heat and let it cool.
· Put spinach, yogurt, salt, cilantro and chili (if using) in a blender and blend till it forms a puree.
· Add water as per the desired thickness and blend again. Serve cold or at room temperature.

You can use lot of other green vegetables like chard, kale etc. If using kale, you have to cook it very well; else it does not taste good.
You can serve this soup with hot rice or pasta.

Here is one more idea for soup
· Sauté onion in oil. Add potatoes (or sweet potato, squash, chayote, zucchini), oregano, tomato paste, salt, broth or water. Simmer till potatoes are done about 30 minutes.