Kodai Kallam soup

3 tablespoon coconut oil/choice of your oil 

2 onion, diced 

2 large cloves garlic, minced 

1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger 

6 cups vegetable broth 

1 cup half cooked black eyed beans 

1 medium cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized florets 1 teaspoon rock salt 

½ teaspoon of red chilli powder 

½ teaspoon of turmeric 

1 cup chopped spinach 

1 cup chopped coriander and mint

1 sweet potato (optional) or big potato, chopped and 

de-skinned 

1 cup chopped or minced tomatoes 

½ cup of special masala powder (2 pieces of cinnamon, 4 cloves, 1 teaspoon jeera and shahi jeera, ½ spoon coriander seeds 1 anise, 1/2 tea spoon peppercorn, ½ spoon poppy seeds, 5 cashewnuts, 2 red chilies — roasted and grinded together) 

1 cup fresh coconut milk 

1/4 cup groundnuts roasted and ground to form powder 1 tsp freshly ground pepper 

Chopped coriander for garnishing 

1/4 cup  of grated Kodai cheese

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and sauté for 5-6 minutes, until translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes and sauté. 

Stir in the ginger, turmeric powder, special masala powder and sauté till nice aroma arises. 

Add the vegetable broth, black-eyed white beans and stir to combine. 

Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat and simmer till it is 3/4th cooked. 

Stir in the cauliflower, sweet/plain potato, spinach and chopped greens.  

Add salt to taste 

Add the roasted groundnut powder. 

Cover and reduce the flame to mediumlow. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the beans, cauliflower and sweet potato are cooked. 

Add the fresh coconut milk and simmer on low flame for a few minutes. 

Add the grated cheese. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed. 

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with fresh coriander. 

Serve hot with whole wheat bread, rotis or brown rice

When you are storing butter in refrigerator, make sure it is kept in an airtight container or in a poly bag. If kept open It absorbs smell or flavors of other food stored in same place. Happy Cooking!