Warming, curried butter bean and vegetable soup for chilly nights

Whoa Brisbane! What’s with the suddenly freezing nights and mornings? I thought we were done with the chilly temperatures. (NB. Yes, I am soft. I live in Brisbane and anything below 10ºC is unbearably cold to me! And here is how I use spices to cope and here are some general ideas for staying warm.)

To survive winter’s last hurrah in the form of this recent cold snap I made this delightfully fragrant and delicious soup.

The root vegetables, beans and spices gently warm and nourish the body and digestive system (Spleen and Stomach) and boost energy according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Even the yellowy colour of the soup supports these organs and their corresponding Earth element.

Curried butter bean and vegetable soup

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 red capsicum, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 large potato, diced
• 3 cups pumpkin, diced
• 1/2 cauliflower, diced
• 1 cup of cooked butter beans (or 400g canned)
• 1 1/4 litre vegetable stock
• salt and pepper, to taste
• handful of green beans, sliced
• coriander, chopped, to garnish

Method:

1. Heat oil in large saucepan. Fry onion, garlic, carrot, cumin seeds and mustard seeds until browned and crackling.
2. Add turmeric and curry powders.  Fry for a minute.
3. Add potato, pumpkin, cauliflower, butter beans, vegetable stock, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
4. Allow soup to cool a little, add half of soup to food processor and blend.
5. Return blended soup to the pot. Add green beans stir over heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.
6. Serve in bowls topped with coriander.

For further information on Chinese Medicine contact Dr Sarah George (Acupuncture).  Sarah is a practitioner of acupuncture (AHPRA registered), massage therapy and natural health at her Broadbeach clinic and is the Chinese Medicine Senior Lecturer at the Endeavour College of Natural Health Gold Coast campus.