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SWEET POTATO SPICY SOUP WITH WET MASALA AND SHREDDED FRESH COCONUT

This soup makes a lovely start to any Festive meal or can be a light, warming and nourishing meal in itself.

Ingredients:

700g Peeled and cubed sweet potatoes

1 extra sweet potato peeled and cut into batons.

1 litre filtered water + 1 tablespoon of filtered water

1/2 tspn rock salt

2.5cm piece of root ginger

1 clove of garlic

1 tablespoon cumin seeds.

2.5cm piece of fresh turmeric root

1 medium sized fresh red chilli

½ lemon

Olive oil/ghee to dress the soup

1 tablespoon fresh grated coconut

Your favourite unleavened bread & dip

To begin with make the wet masala. A masala is a blend of spices and is usually made with ground dried spices, but can be delicious also made with fresh moist ingredients. Peel and finely grate the fresh root ginger, turmeric, garlic and chilli with a ceramic hand grater for a paste-like consistency. In a cast iron skillet, lightly toast the coriander seeds taking care not to burn them and then grind to a powder in a mortar and pestle.

Mix them all spice ingredients together and add the juice of half a lemon, and a tablespoon of filtered water and set the masala aside.

Bring the litre of water and salt to boil in a large pan. Once the water is boiling turn the heat to a medium flame and add two teaspoons of the masala to the water (you can add more masala and seasoning later to taste).

Add the sweet potatoes and cook in the spiced water until soft. Once soft blend to a smooth consistency and place back on the stove to warm a few minutes longer. Add extra water if necessary to attain your desired consistency. Also at this point you can taste and add extra masala or salt and pepper if needed. Your soup is now ready to serve.

Pour the piping hot soup into individual bowls and dress with a pinch of the fresh grated coconut and little organic ghee or organic olive oil (1/2 tspn/serving). Serve with a few pieces of unleavened bread warmed or toasted, your favourite dip and a serving of the raw sweet potato batons. (A delicious healthy bread I like to use, without added yeast or fats is Heart of Nature “Original Pure Grain Bread”. I get it in Waitrose).

I’d love to know how you get on with this recipe! You can message me here