Drumstick stem soup

It’s been quite sometime that I have blogged. I had a blog earlier where I had documented quite a number of recipes. There was some issue with my blog and it was lost. I tried my best to revive it. I had to let it go to avoid stress. I did not have an idea of starting all over again. Since an year, though I thought of starting, the procrastination disease in me did not allow me to do so. A friend of mine was behind me to start one and start documenting my recipes. That was a positive push and I did make up my mind and started it immediately.

What better would it be than participating in Blogging Marathon? A wonderful motivation for a person like me. I sent a mail to valli , and she sweetly accommodated me in.  I am starting my journey all over again with blogging marathon.

Participants are free to choose topics. The early bird gets the worm. If we fail to get a slot we can choose which is available. I have chosen soups and salad. I am starting with a soup. We like having soups for dinner everyday. We usually don’t like having a heavy dinner. We do feast often, but usually its soup. I chose to make drumstick stem soup as I had never tried earlier and wanted to try with the stem.

Drumstick tree is known as a miracle tree. Every part of the tree can be used in cooking. Fresh tender leaves, flowers, tender pods, and seed-kernels of the tree is edible. Every part is delicious. Drumstick is one of the favorite among everyone in my family.

I have always relished the leaves so much. I eat the stir fried leaves  mixed with hot rice and ghee. I cook flowers with egg and is very nutritious and delicious. The pods is cooked in several ways. We can use it in curries or prepare as a stir fry. Soups are made out of pods as well which is very healthy. It’s not a news to know that drumstick is highly nutritious and provides so much of nutrients to the body.

I decided to try the drumstick stem soup. I had not tried this earlier. But to my surprise it turned out so well that my children also relished the hot soup .On a rainy evening we all relished this super healthy soup. Please do give it a try. Its really good for tongue and health.

Ingredients

Drumstick stem – 2 handful

Shallots – 6 no’s

Garlic – 4 no’s

Cumin – 1tsp

Pepper corn – 1 tsp

Butter- 2tsp

Water – 5 cups

Salt – as required

Lemon – quarter to half

Coriander leaves – to garnish

Method

Strip the leaves of the stem. Use the leaves to prepare stir fry. Use the stem for the soup. You can also add some leaves. I did not add here.

Wash the stem and cut it into medium sized pieces. I used my kitchen scissors as I find it easy to cut herbs and few other things with scissors. You can use the matured stem as well. Not the big branch. The ones you find it with the leaves can be used.

Crush the stem. I used my favourite motor and pestle. Add 5 cups of water and the stem in the pressure cooker and cook it  upto 4 whistles. Put it off and let the steam go down. Filter and keep it aside.

Crush the shallots and garlic. I like crushed shallots and garlic in my Indian soup. You can chop if you wish. But crushing induces more flavour. Crush pepper and cumin as well.

In a pan heat 2tsp of butter. Add cumin and pepper to the butter.  Fry for a min and add the garlic. Fry and add shallots. Once it has turned pale add the drumstick stem boiled  water. Add salt to taste. Squeeze in lemon. Let it boil once , sprinkle coriander leaves and serve hot. 

Note : You can filter onion and garlic if you don't like it . If you have chopped the shallots and garlic you can have as it is.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM