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Mulligatawny is a soup that melds the spicy warmth of Indian flavors with British cuisine, all in one deliciously heartwarming bowl.
Mulligatawny beautifully blends Indian and British flavors in a soup that’s the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and comforting. (Fun fact for Seinfeld fans: remember Kramer’s favorite soup from the famous Soup Nazi episode? That’s mulligatawny!) There are as many versions of mulligatawny as cooks who make it, and it’s wonderfully adaptable to whatever you have on hand. You’ll find variations with rice, creamy coconut milk, lentils, meat, or purely vegetarian options, to name just a few. This simple version, adapted from Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners, features lots of veggies, red lentils, coconut milk, tender chicken, and an apple for a bit of sweetness. I often stir in some basmati rice for added substance, but truly, homemade or store-bought naan is all you need to complete the meal. Feel free to toss in leftover or frozen vegetables—sweet potatoes and frozen peas are both great additions—to make it even more nourishing.
“This soup was delicious and very easy! I served it with Naan bread and it was a quick and hearty meal that I will be making again.”
What you’ll need to make MUlligatawny Soup
Before we get started, a few words about the ingredients. It’s important to use red lentils, as opposed to another variety; they cook quickly, add wonderful flavor and thicken the soup nicely. They won’t hold their shape once cooked; that’s okay, they are intended to break down and give the soup a heartier texture.
Garam masala is a fragrant Indian spice blend typically containing peppercorns, mace, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg. It’s available at most large grocery stores (McCormick makes it as part of their Gourmet Collection), but if your regular supermarket does not carry it, you can always find it at Whole Foods or just substitute curry powder.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the garam masala and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Add the vegetable/apple mixture.
Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is softened, 7 to 8 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, lentils, and salt.
Bring the soup to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, until the lentils are tender and starting to break down.
Use an immersion blender to partially purée the soup until slightly thickened. (Alternatively, use a ladle to transfer 2 to 3 cups of the soup to a blender. Remove the center knob so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and return the blended soup to the pot.)
Stir in the chicken and fresh lime, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Sprinkle generously with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
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Mulligatawny
Mulligatawny is a soup that melds the spicy warmth of Indian flavors with British cuisine, all in one deliciously heartwarming bowl.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon garam masala (or substitute curry powder)
- 1 cup diced carrots, from 2 to 3 carrots
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion, from 1 medium onion
- ½ cup finely chopped celery, from 2 stalks
- 1 tart-yet-sweet apple, such as Honeycrisp or Fuji, peeled and finely chopped
- 6 cups chicken broth, best quality such as Swanson
- 1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 cup red lentils
- Scant ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, from a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftovers
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garam masala and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the carrots, onion, celery, and apple, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, coconut milk, lentils, and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and starting to break down.
- Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until slightly thickened. (Alternatively, use a ladle to transfer 2 to 3 cups of the soup to a blender. Remove the center knob so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and return the blended soup to the pot.)
- Add the cooked chicken and 1 tablespoon lime juice, and heat until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, more lime juice, and cayenne pepper, if desired. Serve the soup generously sprinkled with fresh chopped cilantro, with lime wedges on the side.
- Note: The soup will thicken as it sits. Add more chicken broth to thin it out if necessary.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot. (The soup will thicken up when frozen, so you may need to add a bit of broth when reheating.)
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 367
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Sugar: 7g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 22g
- Sodium: 434mg
- Cholesterol: 35mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.