Moroccan inspired Hearty Soup...

Surrounded with snow, ice pellets and a temperature of minus seven degrees most certainly brings about the desire for a nice hot soup.  Add to this that I have come down with the flu and spent most of yesterday in bed drinking hot beverages and feeling sorry myself.  Today I pledged to go into the kitchen to make a quick, comforting soup that would feed me and my "tired" husband who dutifully fed me yesterday.  I made this in the pressure cooker and it was ready in 15 minutes!!

This one pot soup has everything you need for a complete meal and has the comforting earthy spices that take this soup from a whisper to a crescendo.

Note:  Variations to this may include any root vegetables, frozen mixed vegetables, some lentils or whatever you like to put in a hearty soup.  Traditionally the Moroccan version uses lentils instead of rice.

Do not worry if your produce ingredients are a little more or less than I have shown....it will all turn out fine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil or your choice
1 large onion riughly chopped
4 -5 cloves garlic chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 Dried Red Chili (optional)
2 cups chopped potatoes (I used small potatoes cut into 4, with the skin on)
1 cup chopped fresh coriander
1 395 ml can chick peas drained ( about 2 cups drained)
1 796 ml can of diced tomatoes
1 340 ml can of corn kernels drained
1 cup rice, washed till clear and soaked in clear water for at least 15 minutes before draining.
8 cups of water
Ground Spices
2 heaped teaspoons jeera/cumin
1 heaped teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)

Method

Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pressure cooker pot.  If using an electric pressure cooker use the soup button and apply 15 minutes for cooking.

When the oil is hot, add the onions, red chili, garlic and ginger and  cook till the onions are translucent.

Add the fresh coriander, potatoes and spices and stir well.  Stir and cook for about 2 minutes.

Now add all the remaining ingredients.  Stir well. Cover the pressure cooker and let it cook under pressure for 15 minutes.

Check for saltiness, and add more if desired.  Serve hot

Approximate Nutritional value for 10 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 200.2
Total Fat 1.6 g
Total Carbohydrate 40.6 g
Dietary Fiber 4.8 g
Protein 6.5 g