Traditional South Indian Split Pigeon Pea Soup Recipes

SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, cover peas with 2 quarts cold water and soak overnight. If you need a faster method, simmer the peas gently for 2 minutes, and then soak for l hour.
• Once peas are soaked, add ham bone, onion, salt, pepper and marjoram. Cover, bring to boil and then simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove bone; cut off meat, dice and return meat to soup. Add celery, carrots and potatoes. Cook slowly, uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

PIGEON-PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Simmer peas, ham, water, and broth in a 4-quart heavy pot, uncovered, 30 minutes. Make sofrito while peas simmer: Cook jalapeño, bell pepper, ají dulce chiles, onion, and garlic in oil in a skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add cilantro, tomato, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 4 minutes. Season sofrito with salt and pepper.
• Simmer and season stew:
• Stir sofrito and squash into pea mixture and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender and liquid is reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Mash garlic clove and cilantro to a paste with a mortar and pestle, then season with salt and pepper and add to stew. Grate plantain on large holes of a grater directly into stew and season stew with salt and pepper.

COLD INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Pick over the peas to remove any grit & then wash and drain them.
• Place the drained peas in a large saucepan with water and turmeric. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 90 minutes or until peas are tender. Remove from heat.
• Put peas & liquid into a blender or food processor (prefer to use a hand blender in the pot). Add the lemon juice, cumin, coriander, chili, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and refrigerate until cool.
• Garnish with a swirl of yogurt.

INDIAN SPICED PEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the ghee or oil in a heavy bottomed sauce pan and saute the onion and garlic for 5 minutes, until soft and lightly brown.
• Add potato, ginger, cumin, and coriander - stir well. Continue cooking gently over low heat for a few minutes, stirring until the potatoes are covered with the spices.
• Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add peas and chili, salt and pepper. Continue cooking for 5 minutes over low heat.
• Blend soup with a hand blender (or regular blender or food processor) until smooth and return to the pan. Place over low heat and stir in cream. Serve hot.

BASIC SOUTH INDIAN SOUPY SPLIT PIGEON PEAS

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the tamarind paste and the sambar powder. Then, place the dal, water, green chili peppers, curry leaves, turmeric, and salt in a pressure cooker. Secure the lid and cook over high heat until the regulator indicates high pressure, then cook 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and allow the pot to depressurize on its own, 12 to 15 minutes. Carefully open the lid and mix in the tamarind and cilantro. Stir vigorously to mash the dal, then transfer to a serving bowl, cover, and keep warm.2. Heat the oil in a small nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the red chili peppers, stirring about 30 seconds (stand back in case they burst), then the onion, and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger, fry a few seconds, then add the asafoetida and mustard seeds they should splutter upon contact with the hot oil, so lower the heat and cover the pan until the spluttering subsides. Add the sambar powder and cook, about 30 seconds. Transfer to the dal and swirl lightly to mix, with parts of it visible as a garnish. Top with the cilantro and serve.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TRADITIONAL SOUTH INDIAN SPLIT PIGEON PEA SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Soak the dal in 1 cup water until it absorbs the water and softens slightly, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the tamarind paste. Then, transfer the dal to a medium saucepan, add the ginger, green chili pepper, turmeric, salt and another cup of water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, watching carefully and stirring, until the dal is very soft, about 30 minutes.2. In another saucepan, mix together the tomatoes, tamarind, asafoetida, and the remaining water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan and simmer until the tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the cooked dal mixture, adding more water if you prefer a thinner soup, and bring to a boil once again. Transfer to a serving bowl.3. Heat the oil (or ghee) in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add the red chili peppers and the mustard and cumin seeds they should splutter upon contact with the hot oil, so cover the pan until the spluttering subsides. Add the curry leaves and cilantro and stir 1 minute. Transfer to the soup. Mix well and serve.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.