Sunday, March 18, 2012

Minestrone Soup with Cheese Balls

We absolutely love soups, both S and I.. I guess its something which has been a staple in both our household .. Amma would make different soups.. nothing fancy, but simple ones like tomato carrot soup, green soup with all veggies, doodhi soup, pumpkin one & so does my MIL... I make soups often at home and in fact i weekends are Soup times for us..







Today for the third day of BM#14, i choose this particular soup, for a couple of reasons..to incorporate some veggies in kids diet and make it so tasty..that they don't mind veggies any more :)..Ya, this trick worked on me, coz i hated almost all veggies, best way to get me to eat them was to make me drink them as soups :)..Kids do love macroni & cheese right??  I have included them both in this Minestrone Soup.. the cheesy twist in the form of healthy cheese balls ( something i learnt from Neetamehta )


Ingredients
1. Onions -1/4 cup
2. Garlic - 1 pod
3. Carrot - 1/4 cup
4. Beans -  1-2 tbsp
5. Macroni - 1/4 cup
6. Potato - 1/4 cup
7. Tomato - 2 medium
8. Seasoning Cube - 1 / Vegetable broth (2 1/2 cup)
9. Water - 2 1/2 cup  ( My 1 cup is 236 ml)
10. Butter - 1 small slice 
11. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
12. Salt - to taste
13.Olive Oil - 2tsp


Cheese Balls
1. Paneer - 1/4 cup
2. Bread crumbs - 2 tbsp
3. Italian Seasoning/Oregano - 1 tsp
4. Pepper - 1/2 tsp
5. Cilantro - 1tbsp


Preparation Time!!


1. In a small pan, add 2 cups of water and add macroni and let it boil. In another one, mark X shape(easy to peel them) on tomatoes and put them in hot water to blanch them


2. In another pan, add olive oil, then add finely chopped onions & garlic and sauté till brown


3. To this add finely chopped carrot, beans & potato.. Saute for 2 minutes, then drain water of macroni & add it to this mixture. Mix well & add finely chopped blanched tomatoes to this.Cook for 2 minutes

(The macroni doesn't have to be cooked completely, it would be cooked when we boil the mixture.I always feel that a little boiling prior, as you chop veggies & get set enhances flavors..)

4. After cooking the mixture for 2 minutes, add 2 1/2 cup water and add 1 seasoning cube ( you get Maggi cubes) and mash it and bring mixture to boil. Once a boil comes, reduce flame & let it simmer for 15 minutes covered
(Can you see how the soup thickens after the addition of seasoning cube)

5. As the soup is getting cooked, make the cheese balls.. 

6. Take grated panner in a bowl, to this add powdered bread crumbs, italian seasoning ,pepper powder, cilantro 

7. Mash well & make small balls and refrigerate till you serve the soup

8. On the other hand, soup must be done, taste for salt, add pepper powder and a small slice of butter ( slice is say equivalent to 1 tsp). Remove off flame and serve hot with cheese balls


Pointers
* If you add seasoning cube, be careful while adding salt..taste & then add as per your taste. The cubes have salt!
** You could use broth instead of the cube.. 
*** Cheese balls are optional..But if you love cheese & want something interesting..This is something you will love :)



Serving : 2 ( I have halved the recipe & given here.. I made them for 4 servings)
Duration : 30 minutes

Check out the Blogging Marathon page to see what the fellow Marathoners are doing this BM#14






Sending this to Valli's Kids Delight hosted by RujuthaKalyani's Holi Fest, Gayatri's Walk through Memory lane hosted by Roshan and Resh's Say Cheese



60 comments:

  1. have heard a lot abt this soup...looks delicious n yum..liked addition of cheese balls :)

    Join the Just "4" Fun event :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks sobha.. it is one of the yummiest soups :) u should make them!

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  2. Very nice twist..my kids love soups and I can try this for them..:)..you have really made a point here to reflect that's kid's snacks can be so healthy unlike those fried ones..good!

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    1. thanks valli.. i am trying to be good & healthy :D my mom is going to be proud ;)

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  3. Interesting recipe Rasi...loved the idea of adding cheese balls. Personally, I do not prefer adding seasoning cubes or broth to soups. Adding / boiling vegetables itself should create a flavorful stock :)

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    1. Even i avoid them,, i make the stock at home & use it immediately too.. but today had the constraint of 30 min.. so used them.. My pantry is stocked with instant stuff :D for such day!

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  4. wow...yummy looking...and love all ur step-by step shots....thanks for linking it to my event :)

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  5. hi Rasi....thanks for linking this recipe to WTML....

    nice quote there from Mark Twain...

    i like this healthy, nutritious and delicious soup...


    cheers

    roshan

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  6. love the recipe.. very delicious and wholesome soup. you explained the process very well.great ..

    Anjana

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  7. all your snaps are too good. it explains well. I've a cold and love to have this right away..
    Reshmi @ Noel collections

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    Replies
    1. aww.. wish i could give it to you..get well soon & thanks :)

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  8. I have heard so much about this soup, never made it. The cheese balls look super cute! The Kahaani discussion is going on in my blog :-)

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    1. U should. its such a tasty one & for our weather..the best thing :).. yup saw that & left such a big reply, don't ask :D

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  9. yummy soup dear.......with well pictorial explanation....superb

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  10. Love Minestrone soup but never tried the cheese balls in there!

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    Replies
    1. did it for the kids & ended up loving it!

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  11. Love this soup, with cheese balls, yumm, also a nice one pot meal..

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  12. such an interesting recipe Rasi. love the idea. I ll try as time permits.

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    1. quick & says one.. u should try this! Let me know how u like it!

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  13. soups looks super deliciousssss with cheese balls

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  14. The macroni and cheese balls will surely attract the kids...looks very delicious

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    Replies
    1. yup that wa amy guess :).. thanks kaveri !

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  15. Replies
    1. thanks julie.. yup done linking & sent a new one too :)

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  16. Intresting combo......Will attract any kid for sure

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  17. looks really yumm.loved the colour.tempting n mouthwatering...as all said really intresting...
    Maha

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  18. Wow, what a coincidence! i tried minestrone soup at mu place too but definitely not adding the cheese balls. Your recipe is a must try one!

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    Replies
    1. Did it for a twist :).. thanks deepti..isnt its such a tasty one?

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  19. Adding paneer ball to minestrone soup is a nice attempt. I like it.

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  20. loved your idea to make some healthy soup for kid's snack theme...great!! hearty n filling soup...double like :)

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    Replies
    1. aww thanks sangee.. childhood memories :)

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  21. Super Rasi!!! I love Italian minestrone soup and can have it any time of the day. My daughter just loves veggies (can you believe it?) in any form and she will love this soup for sure. Thanks for sharing and the pictures look amazing.

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  22. wow paneer balls in Minestrone soup very interesting fantastic ....

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  23. Bookmarked.. Love the idea of cheese balls

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  24. This recipe is bookmarked,will surely try it out:))

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  25. My kids love minestrone soup.., never added cheese balls.., will try it out next time.., My eldest loves cheese in all form :)

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Really look forward to your opinions, comments & suggestions :)...Glad you took time to say something on my dish..Its a yay! moment for me :)