Lemon Coriander Soup

wellhealthorganic.com Lemon Coriander Soup: Delightful, zesty, and tailor-made for combating a cold, this Lemon Coriander Soup is akin to sipping sunshine from a bowl. Crafted with a medley of aromatics, carrots, mushrooms, lemon, coriander (also known as cilantro), and a blend of seasonings, this tangy and richly flavored soup isn’t just a treat for the taste buds but also a breeze to whip up, making it the quintessential recipe for a chilly weeknight.

Lemon Coriander Soup

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Cuisine: International
  • Course: Appetizers, Soup
  • Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate

Ingredients:

For the Soup:

  1. 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil or any neutral-flavored oil
  2. 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger or 1-inch ginger piece
  3. 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic or 3 to 4 medium-sized garlic cloves
  4. ¼ cup chopped spring onion whites (scallion whites) or 2 small spring onions or ¼ cup finely chopped onions or shallots
  5. ¼ to ⅓ cup finely chopped carrots or 1 small to medium carrot
  6. 1 to 1.25 cups chopped white button mushrooms or 4 to 5 white button mushrooms
  7. ½ teaspoon chopped green chili
  8. 1 lemongrass stalk, chopped into 2 to 3-inch pieces (optional)
  9. Crushed black pepper or ground black pepper powder, according to preference.
  10. Salt, to taste
  11. 4 cups water or homemade vegetable stock or packaged sodium-free vegetable stock
  12. 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
  13. ⅓ cup chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
  14. 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped spring onion greens (scallion greens) or chives (optional)

For Garnish:

  1. 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
  2. 4 lemon slices (optional)
  3. 1 tablespoon chopped spring onion greens (scallion greens) or chives (optional)

Also Read: Panch Phoron

Instructions:

Preparation:

  1. Rinse and chop spring onions and mushrooms.
  2. Peel, rinse, and finely chop the carrots.
  3. Rinse, peel, and finely chop ginger and garlic.
  4. Rinse and finely chop green chilies and coriander leaves.

Cooking Veggies:

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil or any neutral-flavored oil in a pan or pot over low to medium-low heat.
  2. Once the oil is hot, add finely chopped ginger, garlic, and chopped green chili. Sauté for a few seconds until the raw aroma dissipates, without browning them.
  3. Add the chopped spring onion whites and sauté them for about a minute.
  4. Stir in the chopped carrots and mushrooms. If using a mix of vegetables, add them now.
  5. Stir-fry for about 3 minutes on medium-low to medium heat. If not using mushrooms, stir-fry for less time.
  6. Add 4 cups of water or vegetable stock, chopped lemongrass stalk, crushed black pepper, and salt to taste.

Making Lemon Coriander Soup:

  1. Cover and simmer over medium-low to medium heat until the carrots and mushrooms are tender.
  2. Once cooked, add chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice according to taste.
  3. Turn off the heat and add chopped spring onion greens.
  4. Before serving, remove the lemongrass stalks with a spoon.
  5. Serve hot or warm in soup bowls or mugs, garnished with additional spring onion greens and lemon slices if desired.

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Notes:

  • To thicken the soup, you can add a cornflour paste (corn starch slurry).
  • For an extra umami flavor, consider adding a splash of soy sauce.
  • Feel free to incorporate your favorite vegetables into the soup.
  • The lemongrass stalk is optional and can be omitted.
  • Homemade vegetable stock can be substituted for water.
  • Add red chili powder or cayenne pepper for added spice.
  • Adjust lemon juice according to taste preference.
  • Vegetarian or vegan bouillon cubes can be used.
  • Instead of spring onions (scallions), you can use a small onion or shallot.
  • Garnish with herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, or mint.
  • This recipe can be easily scaled up for more servings.