3 soups to warm up your day

Combat winter chill by sipping these delicious soups, packed with health and nutrition. They are healthier than the packaged ones that are full of artificial ingredients and are high on sodium.

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
This delicious Mexican style soup with chicken, tortilla chips, capsicum and tomatoes is easy to make, flavourful and is ideal as a starter to any meal or can be also served on a cold day.

Ingredients
Chicken - 200 gms, cooked, finely chopped or shredded
Onion - 1, small, chopped
Red Capsicum - 1/2, chopped
Green Capsicum - 1/2, chopped
Jalapeno - 1, chopped
Garlic - 1 clove, minced
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/4 tsp
Dried Oregano - 1 tsp
Tomatoes - 1 cup, chopped
Chicken Stock - 2 1/2 cups
Sweet Corn Kernels - 1 cup
Sunflower Oil - 3 tsp
Coriander Leaves - handful, chopped
Juice of 1/4 Lime
Salt as per taste
Tortilla Chips - to serve (available in supermarkets)
Slices of Avocado to garnish (optional)

Method
- Heat oil in a pan over medium flame.
- Saute the onions, garlic and capsicums for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- Add the cumin powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder and oregano.
- Stir well and cook for a minute.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock.
- Stir and bring to a boil.
- Reduce flame and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the chicken and sweet corn.
- Simmer for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the flame.
- Add lime juice, coriander leaves and salt.
- Stir to mix.
- Add some tortilla chips to serving bowls.
- Pour the soup on top.
- Garnish with some more tortilla chips and avocado slices.
- Serve with a dollop of cream if desired.

Mushroom Pepper Soup Recipe
A quick and easy to make soup that warms you up.

Ingredients
Mushrooms - 200 gms, chopped
Tomatoes - 2, finely chopped
Shallots (Sambar Onions) - 8 to 10, finely chopped
Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tsp
Mint Leaves - few, finely chopped
Coriander Leaves - handful, chopped
Curry Leaves - few
Black Pepper Powder - as required
Butter - 2 tblsp
Salt as per taste
Water - 2 cups (adjust as required)

Method
- Heat butter in a pan over medium flame.
- Saute the onions for a minute or two.
- Add the ginger garlic paste, curry leaves, coriander leaves, mint leaves and mushrooms.
- Stir well and cook for a minute.
- Add the tomatoes and pour enough water.
- Simmer and bring to a boil.
- Just before removing from flame, sprinkle salt and pepper powder.
- Pour into small bowls and serve at once.

Spinach Soup Recipe
A smooth and delicious spinach soup.

Ingredients
Spinach - 1 bunch, washed, stemmed, chopped
Maida (Plain Flour) - 1 tblsp
Butter - 1 tblsp
Black Cardamoms - 1 to 2
Ginger - 1 inch piece, minced
Garlic - 1 clove, minced
Onion - 1, small, finely chopped
Black Peppercorns - 2
Bay Leaves - 2
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt as per taste
White Pepper Powder as per taste
Thick Cream to garnish (optional)
Bread Slices - 1 or 2, chopped into squares and fried.

Method
- Blanch the spinach leaves in hot water for a minute or two.
- Drain and refresh under cold water.
- Drain again and blend well to a smooth puree.
- Heat butter in a nonstick pan over medium flame.
- Add the cardamoms and fry for 10 seconds.
- Add the maida and saute for a minute.
- Add the onions, ginger, garlic and saute for 2 to 4 minutes.
- Add the peppercorns, salt, pepper powder, cumin powder and bay leaves.
- Pour 500 ml of water and stir well.
- Gently bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.
- Strain this liquid into another pan.
- Discard the solids.
- Add the spinach puree the pan.
- Simmer on medium flame for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove from flame and pour into individual serving bowls.
- Add a dollop of cream and couple of fried bread pieces.
- Serve hot.