Tomato-Bottle Gourd Soup

This was a soup made for L who is on a diet - of course the cream and butter was missing from her portion.  The recipe is from My Tasty Curry* .  It has carrots in it too.  But you could use beetroot ( it would result in a deeper colour), and add any other veggie and convert it to a mixed vegetable soup.

Ingredients:**
Tomatoes - 2 measures - chop
Bottle gourd - 1/2 measure - peel, remove seeds, chop
Carrot - 1/2 measure - peel and chop
Salt to taste
Pepper - to taste
Butter - 1-2 tbsp
Water - to make to desired soup consistency
Cream for garnish

Take the chopped veggies and put in a pressure cooker.  Cook till 1-2 whistles.
Cool.
Blend in a mixer.
Pass through a sieve to make a smooth mixture
Place on stove and simmer for a few minutes.  Add the salt and pepper.
Mix in the butter.
Serve in bowls - decorate with a swirl of cream - basil, coriander.

**( the vegetable proportion can be varied as per taste too)

Added garnishing - not seen here - chop carrots, beans finely, blanch and add to the soup before serving. Gives it a nice crunch as you dig into your soup.

While I was making the soup. L made a fat free mushroom-corn -spinach curry.  She lightly boils the ingredients, roasts finely chopped onions and seasons them.  Very nice.  I had that and a slice of fresh brown bread.  A nice meal.

Link to *My Tasty Curry 

L also converted some leftover soup to a tasty low-fat paneer dish too.  She heated it and added some chilie flakes, roasted onion, kasuri methi and low-fat paneer for a new dish.