Spicy Tomato Masala Soup

After being sent home from work earlier this week due to crappy winter weather, I thought that blending a soup together was a fantastic way to make use of my extra time at home.

My cousin, who just returned from South Africa, brought home some amazing colourful and aromatic spices. I was fortunate enough to get some, and I really couldn’t wait to put them to use.

I decided that masala was going to be making an appearance in my tomato soup that day; what a great way to kick things up a notch! If you enjoy a level of spice that will make your nose runny, this is a winner.

I added some plain Balkan-style yogurt as a garnish to cool things down a tad. I do love heat, but the yogurt offered a nice contrast to that heat and it further smoothed out the consistency of the soup.

I also added some pepitas as a garnish. I love adding a bit of crunch to a silky soup whether it be from pepitas, squash seeds, crushed peanuts – whatever works! It’s always a nice treat in your spoonful.

You can also add some cilantro or flat leaf parsley to add a nice pop of colour if you’re planning on serving this to guests – or do it for yourself! Sometimes I just like to make things pretty for myself – why not?

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Spicy Tomato Masala Soup

A spicy twist on your typical tomato soup.

Servings 5

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a large onion diced
• 1 tablespoon of peanut oil
• 3 large cloves of garlic minced
• 2 teaspoon of garam masala
• 2 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes juice included
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 1/2 cup plain Balkan-style yogurt and extra for garnish
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of sugar

FOR GARNISH2 tablespoons of Balkan-style yogurt

• 1 tablespoon of pepitas
• Cilantro or flat leaf parsley

Instructions

• In a medium-size pot, heat the peanut oil on medium-low heat.
• Add the onions and cook until they are translucent and soft (approx. 5 minutes).
• Add the minced garlic and the garam masala. Stir well and simmer for approx. 30 seconds.
• Add the plum tomatoes along with the juice from the cans.
• Add sea salt and sugar.
• Turn up the heat to bring everything to a rolling boil, and then turn the heat down to low.
• Give the soup a taste test and add salt/sugar to your liking if you feel the need.
• Give it a good stir, then partially cover the pot and let everything simmer for approx. 20 minutes.
• Transfer the soup to a food processor or blender. Do this in batches if you must.
• Add the yogurt, and process until you get the smooth consistency you're after. The texture can be a personal preference thing, so go with the flow and work at it until you get the results you're after.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with yogurt, pepitas, and cilantro or flat leaf parsley (all garnishes are optional).