Morning, all! It's another grey day, here. The twins are performing in the Hope of America program tonight, so I'm running around today to get everything they need. So, it's going to be leftovers for the family tonight. We have meatloaf and tomato soup to go around!
Here's the recipe for the soup:
Indian spiced cream of tomato soup with whole wheat couscous
3/4 C. whole wheat pearl couscous
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 whole medium red pepper, stem and seeds removed and diced
1 whole medium onion, diced (I used dried, minced onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 whole 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated on a microplane
1 14 ounce can petite diced tomatoes with juices
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
3 C. vegetable stock (I used chicken)
1 whole bay leaf
2 whole dried red chili peppers (optional, I didn't use these)
2 tsp. garam masala
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp coconut milk or heavy cream (I used half and half)
Fill a medium sized pot 2/3 of the way full with water and bring to a boil. Add the couscous and a generous pinch of salt and cook until the couscous is al dente, about 7 to 9 minutes. Then drain and set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and onion and cook until softened, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and ginger and cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, bay leaf, dried red chili peppers, garam masala, sugar, salt and pepper. Turn heat up to high and bring to a boil. Then cover the pot, turn heat down to simmer, and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn heat off, cool slightly, and remove and discard the bay leaf and dried red chili peppers.
Transfer 2/3 of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth (or use an immersion blender). Pour the pureed soup back into the pot with the chickpeas and lemon juice. Bring up to a simmer over medium heat, then turn heat off and stir in the couscous and coconut milk or heavy cream. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, sugar or lemon juice as desired.
Enjoy!
....just got back from the airport, dropping my DS off - he's on his way to the Keys....
Thank you. Hope your DS enjoys the Keys.
She's just going away....she's never 'off'. 
