Beetroot soup (பீட்ரூட் சூப்)

Beetroot soup 

Ingredients:

Beetroot  -  2 (small size)

Small onions  -  6 

Garlic  -  4 Cloves

Tomato  - 1

Toor Dal  - 1/4 cup

Green Chilli  -  2

Butter  -  2 tsp

Salt and Pepper  - to taste.

Steps:

In a bowl of water soak beetroots for 10 to 15min ,then wash well in running water. This is to remove the sand particles that is present in this root vegetable. Though supermarkets sell washed ones, it is always better to wash again.

Peel onions, garlic and cut into small pieces.Cut the tomato into pieces.

 In a pressure cooker, boil beetroot and toor dal placing them in separate containers. Pressure cooking is fast and easy but if you like it, can cook in open pot as well. 

Mash the boiled toor dal into a fine pulp and keep it aside.

Peel the beetroot and cut into small pieces.

In a pot add a teaspoon of butter and saute the onions, garlic, tomato and green chilli.

When it turns soft, remove from flame. Let it cool

Blend the above with the cut beetroot to form a puree in a blender/mixie.

Transfer to the same pot, add the boiled toor dal.

Adjust the consistency by adding water.

Switch on the stove, allow it to boil.

Transfer it to serving bowls.

Add salt and pepper according to the taste and mix well.

Add a dash of butter on top.

Serve with toast or salad.

I had it with lettuce, carrot salad. 

My Notes:

Beetroot is one of my favourite vegetable. Considering its vast health benefits, was served frequently during my childhood by my Mom and I guess I have developed a liking since then.

 Beetroots are an excellent source of  folate and manganese and also contains thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, pantothenic acid, choline, betaine,magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and selenium. People who are anemic are advised to include beetroot often in their diet  in various forms.

Beetroot juice supplementation has been shown to improve muscle oxygenation during exercise, because of the nitrates present.

Beetroot decreases the risk of obesity ,diabetes, heart disease and promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, overall lower weight.

I love this veggie not only for its taste and health benefits but also coz of the variety of dishes one can make with this bright  reddie red  vegetable :)

Soup, Salad, Juice, stir fry, Sambar, kottu, Beetroot Rice, Beetroot Halwa, Beetroot cake .. the list grows. Not to forget the new, favorite of many, - natural red velvet cake with cream cheese  where beetroot is added to get the red color. 

I shall post the recipe for Beetroot halwa and Beetroot rice soon.

Timebeing, enjoy this yummy soup.