12 January 2009

Persian-style onion soup

French onion soup is a Bistro classic, delicious it may be but it is a faff, then add croutons or bread and a mound of cheese and the calories soon add up. Still recovering from the festive season I am craving some lighter foods and turned to Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite for inspiration. This simple, aromatic and lightly spiced soup immediately caught my eye, I don't know how I managed to overlook it before.


Persian-style onion soup
serves 4

3 tbsp olive oil
5 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced
sea salt and black pepper
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/2 tsp dried mint
2 tbsp plain flour
700ml vegetable or chicken stock
1 cinnamon stick
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp caster sugar
few flat leave parsley sprigs, I swapped for coriander.

Place a heavy based pan over a medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil, the onions and some seasoning. Cover and seat for 12-15 minutes until the onions are soft, lifting the lid and stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and increase the heat very slightly.

Add the spices, dried mint and remaining oil, then stir in the flour, cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes. Gradually pour in stock, whisking as you do so to prevent any lumps forming. When it has all been added, drop in the cinnamon stick and simmer over a low heat, partially covered with the lid, for 30-40 minutes.

Stir in the lemon juice and sugar, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Discard the cinnamon stick. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and scatter over the herbs to serve.



This soup is very good, quick enough to make for a special lunch and uses store cupboard ingrediants. The subtle spices make a wonderfully aromatic base for this soup, I can't get enough of it and I'm planning to cook it again this week.

7 comments:

arista said...

That looks so delicious - I'd love to be eating that right now instead of my cheese sandwich!

The Blonde Duck said...

So elegant! Ooh la la!

Coby said...

I don't like onions as a stand alone veg, therefor not a fan of French Onion Soup. This recipe which uses some other very aromatic flavours might just work for me - I feel silly asking - but how oniony is this soup?

Oh my! Apple pie! said...

Coby - it is oniony, but very mellow, you don't get any acrid onion taste.

JillyB said...

Just printed this one off as I love soups and this is definately one to try!Mmmmmmmm

Anonymous said...

This sounds delicious and exotic while also light and healthy, it does look like the perfect lunch :).

Anonymous said...

I love the sound of this soup, so warming and tasty.