ALMOND TURNIP SOUP-A creamy soup treat

When it comes to soups my choice has always been for a thick soup which is creamy. I mostly opt for sweet corn soups or beet root soup . My son totally hates soups and every variety of soup which I had tried for me would ultimately be my meal. But this turnip soup was just loved by him and he made me a happy mommy. The recipe was suggested by my friend Sweatha Ravi, and it was lying in my to-do-list for more than 6 months. I rarely had chance to get turnips. That’s one reason and next was my laziness. I am sorry,I forgot to click the turnips due to power failure the other day.I slightly altered the recipe to suit me and my family. Hope you also love it. Do not forget to share this recipe with your friends and family. Follow my blog here to receive live updates in your mail box or like my page at www.facebook.com/KitchenKathukutty

Ingredients:

  • Turnip-1 small
  • Potato-A small piece
  • Garlic-4
  • Hing-A pinch
  • Pepper powder-1/4 tsp
  • Cumin powder-1/4 tsp
  • Almonds-15
  • Ghee-1 tsp
  • Raisins-3
  • Salt-To taste

Almond turnip soup

Procedure:

1.Soak almonds and raisins over night.

2.Wash,peel skin and steam cook turnip,garlic and potatoes well.

3.Peel the skin of almonds and make a fine paste out of them & raisins.

Almond turnip soup

4.Cool the steam cooked veggies and mash them well.

5.In a pan,add ghee and saute the veggies paste for 2 minutes

6.Add the almond paste and half cup of water and let it boil for five minutes.

Almond turnip soup

7.When it begins to boil add hing,salt,pepper and cumin powder and mix well.

8.Switch it off and serve it luke warm.

Almond turnip soup


P.S:

You can add a green chilly while steam cooking veggies if you look for a spicy version

Cooking turnip with potato helps in removing the smell of turnip and you would not hate turnips from now on.

You can also add beetroot or carrot or beans with this.

I added raisins just for a change. You can skip if you wish to.

The soup has to boil until the raw smell of almond and turnip leaves.

Adding water is as per choice of thickness.

You can also use a mixer/blender to mash veggies.

This is recommended for babies above 8 months and you can skip almonds if you wish.

Ensure to have introduced almonds,turnips,potatoes prior before offering this soup to your baby.

Avoid salt for babies below one year.

Please have a word with your doctor before introducing any new food to babies.


TURNIP FOR BABIES:

Turnips can be introduced from 6 th month after consultation with your doctor. Few suggest this to be avoided till 8 months because of its gassy nature. To over come it please choose small and tender turnips and also cook with some garlic,hing and jeera. The smell of turnip after cooking and slight bitterness associated with it makes people stay away from this. To escape from it I would recommend you to cook them with potatoes and prefer choosing small,fresh,young turnips with green leaves and turnips which are white with tinges of purple/red/green. I have never had a bad experience with turnip with smell or taste. If you choose bigger turnips prefer to open cook so that the smelly gases get dissipated. Do consider your family history of allergies before introducing turnips.

Health benefits:

  • Turnip is one vegetable which has the power to remove congestion because of its Vitamin C content. Hence this soup is best during cold and cough. Skip almonds in such a scernario.
  • The Vitamin C and Zinc in Turnip helps in building babies immunity power.
  • The dietary fiber helps in preventing constipation.

Nutrition information of turnip:

Vitamin C – 26.7 mg
Vitamin K – 6.7 mcg
Folate – 21 mcg
Potassium – 573 mg
Sodium – 16 mg
Calcium – 58 mg
Phosphorus – 108 mg
Magnesium – 45 mg
Iron – .9 mg

Reference:
babycentre.com
wholesomebabyfood.com

Beet Root Clear Soup

Thick and creamy soups have always been my favourite and clear soups have been my choice when I want a change and during sickness. This recipe will help pregnant and lactating women to keep their hemoglobin levels right and very apt for first foods for babies. I don’t always recommend soups as first foods in a routine. Because preferring semi solids/solids for weaning helps baby to cling on breastfeeding better. This soup is the best in times of sickness or when you feel like having nothing at all.

Ingredients:

  • Beet root-1/2 cup grated
  • Shallots-5
  • Garlic-7
  • Tomato-1 small sized
  • Cumin seeds-1/4 tsp
  • Pepper powder-1/4 tsp
  • Salt-To taste
  • Ghee-To taste

beet root soup

Procedure:

    1.Combine beet root,tomato,garlic,cumin seeds and pressure cook with 1 cup of water.
    2.When they are cooked well,blend them in a mixer and strain it.
    3.Add ghee in a pan and heat the strained water.
    4.When it begins to boil add pepper and salt.
    5.Serve it luke warm.

P.S:

This can be given for babies of 7 months plus,after having introduced tomato and beet root separately.

For babies always use sterilized bowls and spoons.

Do consider your family history of allergies and your pediatricians advice before experimenting any new foods.

Adjust pepper and salt as per your taste.

You can replace cumin seeds with cumin powder as well.

For a thick version,do not strain the puree. Cook with some more water after blending.

Skip salt for less than 1 year babies.