Spinach or Palak Soup.

Woooo…Finely…Its winter…

Soups have become a part of our meal in winters. Many of the families prefer to have Spinach soup which is rich in iron and other minerals. So let’s make healthy Spinach Soup. It is consumed  half an hour before the meal. It is very healthy and nutritious.

Spinach or Palak is best available during winter months. Fresh, tender spinach leaves (baby spinach) can be eaten raw either in salad and vegetable burgers or as juice. When buying spinach, make sure that the leaves and stems are crispy and dark green in color.

Avoid spinach whose leaves and stems appear yellowish or pale green and are wilted and bruised, as the spinach has started to turn or is already bad. Also, make sure that there is no slimy coating as this is an indication of decay.

If you are purchasing prepackaged spinach, check if there is any water or condensation inside the package or whether the leaves appear wet or mushy. Buy the package that seems to be free from all this.

Health Benefits of Palak Spinach)

1.  Spinach is a rich source of vitamin A and reduces the risk of eye diseases, like night blindness, itching eyes and eye ulcers.

2.   Spinach is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. The former is known to lower the blood pressure while the latter is known for increasing it. Therefore, spinach, included in a regular diet brings the blood pressure down to normal levels.

3.Studies show that spinach lowers the cancer risk by 34%, particularly breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer and stomach cancer. Components like vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, tocopherol, chlorophyllin, folic acid and fiber are considered beneficial in fighting against cancer cells.

4. It is advisable for pregnant women to include spinach in their regular diet as folate found in it is needed by the growing fetus for development of a new nervous system. Also, vitamin A present in spinach is required for the lung development of the fetus as well as during breast feeding.

5. Spinach is store house for many phyto-nutrients that have health promotional and disease prevention properties.

6. It is also good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

7.   Spinach leaves are an excellent source of vitamin K.

                           Spinach / Palak Soup

 Ingredients-

·        Onion - ⅓ cup, chopped

·        Tomato - ½ cup, chopped

·        Potato- 1 small.

·        Ginger - ¼ inch piece

·        Garlic clove - 1

·        Lemon juice- 1-2 tsp.

·        Spinach - 2 cups, packed

·        Clarified butter - 1 teaspoon

·        Garlic - 1 teaspoon, grated or paste

·        Butter- 2-3 tbsp.

·        Salt - to taste

·        Pepper powder - ¼ teaspoon

·        Milk - ¼ cup

Method-

Tender, crispy, dark-green leaves are one of the favorite ingredients of chefs all around the planet. 

By adding little butter I have made it little creamy still it is low in calorie unlike other creamy soup.

1)Well clean PLAK / Spinach leaves properly and remove the very dirty and wilted ones. They should be rinsed in salt water for about 30 minutes in order to remove dirt, and any insecticide residues. I keep the stalks of spinach too.

2)  Wash the tomatoes and ginger also. Cut the spinach leaves, tomatoes and ginger into big pieces and put them inside the cooker along with 2-3 table spoon water to boil.

3) Take out the boiled mixture and let it cool  for 5-10 minutes.

6) Then make the smooth puree of it into the blender.

7) Pour 3-4 cups of water into the mixture and sieve it with a strainer in a steel bowl.

7) Heat the Butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot then add pureed mixture.

9) Add salt and pepper.) 

10) Let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Our Spinach soup is ready.

Turn off the flame and put 1-2 tbsp. of butter, lemon juice into it and mix well.

Serve the hot and fresh spinach soup with soup sticks to your family members after garnishing each bowl.

Enjoy your super enriched Spinach Soup.