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Mulligatawny Soup Recipe

The famed Indian-influenced lentil soup.

  • Toasting the spices adds more flavor and complexity.
  • A sweet potato and apple add subtle sweetness.

Mulligatawny marries both British and Indian ingredients to form a soup that is a bit spicy, a bit sweet, and very satisfying. There are many versions of this popular soup; some contain rice, some coconut milk, others are vegetarian while some include meat. The important elements are spice, sweetness, and in my opinion, lentils.

To make my version of this Anglo-Indian dish, I focused on toasted spices and sweetness, which to me represent both cultures' palates. Many recipes add a dollop of mango chutney while this version uses both an apple and a sweet potato to get a more subtle sweet flavor. Toasting, then grinding whole spices gives this soup depth, while a tablespoon of curry powder rounds out the mixture to produce the marriage of sweet and savory that is popular in many Indian-influenced dishes throughout Britain.

Recipe Details

Mulligatawny Soup Recipe

Prep 10 mins Cook 90 mins Active 30 mins Total 100 mins Serves 4 servings Save Print Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon whole mustard seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon whole cumin seeds

  • 1/2 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pound (about 3 large) chicken thighs

  • 1 onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 1 medium carrot, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

  • 1 celery rib, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)

  • 1 tablespoon curry powder

  • 3 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 inch piece fresh ginger, finely grated

  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

  • 1 apple, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

  • 1 plum tomato, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

  • 1/2 cup dry red lentils

  • 6 cups homemade or store-bought low sodium chicken broth, or water

  • Greek yogurt, to garnish

  • Finely chopped cilantro, to garnish

  • Red chile flakes, to garnish

Directions

  1. Place mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds in a skillet and toast over high heat until spices begin to smell toasted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and process until fine.

  2. Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat until oil is shimmering. Season chicken thighs with salt and add to pot skin side down. Cook until skin is golden, about 5 minutes, then flip and cook until other side is also brown, about another 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and reserve.

  3. Add onion, carrot, and celery to the pot and cook, stirring often until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder and toasted spices and stir until vegetables are evenly covered with spices. Add garlic, ginger, sweet potato, apple and plum tomato and stir to coat. Add lentils then return chicken thighs to pot. Cover with broth or water and bring to a simmer. Cook until potatoes and lentils are soft and soup has thickened, about 1 hour.

  4. Remove thighs from soup, shred meat and skin, then return to pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve garnished with yogurt, cilantro, and red pepper flakes.

Special Equipment

Spice grinder, stock pot

Read More

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  • Braised & Stewed Chicken
  • Lentils
  • Chicken Thighs
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