Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Aatu Kaal Soup (Mutton Bone Soup) and a Meme

It's been a few days since Uma tagged me for a meme. I'd been postponing it a bit, but I'm finally doing it.

Here are the rules for the Meme..
  1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
  2. Share 5 facts about yourself.
  3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them)
  4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.
Five facts about me...? Ok, here goes!

1. I hate bananas. I don't mean dislike. I mean cannot stand them, do not get them within 10 feet of me, the very thought of them creeps me out kind of hatred. I have no idea how or why this happened, but it's a very deep hatred (emotional scarring??!!). It got to the point that one day I was sitting in the exam hall and one of my classmates brought a banana for breakfast, but I didn't know it. Suddenly, while writing the exam, I could smell the stench of banana... It was so bad, I had to leave the room for a few minutes!

2. I am, shall we say, "vertically challenged?" I'm talking short, people. Very short. I mean, I can't survive one day in the kitchen without my footstool!

3. I have a tendency to put everyone and everything else before myself. Not sure if that's just a female thing, but I've always been guilty of it!

4. I am a hopeless romantic! I'd always been one of those girls with fantasies of Prince Charming on a white horse. Well, my husband doesn't know how to ride a horse, but oh, well!

5. Dogs creep me out, too! I've always been a bit scared of them. I mean, it's fine if they're not within reach, but the minute they can touch me, I'm a little scared. My poor in-laws had to lock up their dogs when we were in India on our wedding trip!

I guess that's plenty for now, huh? Let me pass on the love, now. I'm going to tag Anu, Laavanya, Dhivya, Lavanya Raj, and Sagari.

Now, for a comforting, warm, spicy soup!


This aatu kaal soup is one that I made using bones (with little bits of meat attached) from a goat leg that I'd bought. I had a really bad sinus thing going on a couple of weeks ago and this soup was just what the doctor ordered! The idea is basically using the bones to create a quick mutton stock and seasoning it up with awesome spices to make a flavor combo that really rocks! Hope you guys like this one as much as I did. :)

Ingredients:

Mutton bones - 2 lb, cleaned of excess fat
Onion - 1 medium, chopped
Tomato - 1 medium, chopped
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 3 tsp, or to taste

Dry fry and coarsely powder:

Whole black peppercorns - 2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp

For seasoning:

Oil
Onion - 1/2 medium, chopped
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Fennel seeds - 1/4 tsp
Garlic - 3 cloves, crushed

Method:

1. In a pressure cooker, place the mutton bones, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chilly powder, onion, tomato, salt, and about 3-4 cups of water. Use more water to make a thinner soup or slightly less for a thicker consistency.

2. Cook all of the above on low heat for 30-45 minutes. This is basically a mutton stock.

3. Once the pressure has subsided, open the cooker. Add the coarse powder (black pepper, jeera, and fennel) and allow to boil to the desired consistency. Now, reduce the heat to low.

4. In a separate pan, heat oil. When hot, add the fennel seeds and let brown and splutter. Then, add the seasoning ingredients and fry until the onions have softened. Pour this into the soup.

5. Once the whole thing comes to a boil, turn off. Enjoy by itself or with hot rice to make a quick and satisfying meal!

Aatu Kaal Soup for you!

Update: Also check out Shaheen's version here.

33 comments:

Cham said...

I really love the aatu kaal soup , while it is simmered the whole night in the stove.... haha
Ok let me tell u something, why u should not try to teach him how to ride a horse? huh...and u hate banana at this level?
Kidding....
Great aatu kaal gal :)

Anonymous said...

Hmm..I love mutton.The soup looks delicious!!! And the facts about you are pretty interesting.Who hasnt dreamt about Prince Charming and white horses ;)

Dhivya said...

hey kalai..thanks for tagging me

Uma said...

That was a lovely meme, Kalai! What? You hate bananas? Strange indeed! I enjoyed the part of Prince Charming! Good one! I enjoyed a lot reading your meme. And you served us a comforted, yummy soup at the end! Kudos! Now I am not alone regarding the fear of dogs.

Kalai said...

Cham, Amma used to tell me abt the soup simmering overnight! As for teaching him to ride a horse, he's soooooo scared!! :)

Homecooked, thanks! :)

Dhivya, can't wait to see your meme! :)

Uma, thanks so much, dear! I know I'm in the minority with the banana thing... Glad you liked the soup! :)

Sagari said...

hi kalai thank u for choosing me

Mansi said...

That was a nice read kalai! man, I'm behind schedule on writing my memes too, though I've already posted 2 of them before:)

bee said...

it's funny. i'm eating a banana as as i read this :D

Kalai said...

Sagari, I'm looking forward to seeing your meme! :)

Mansi, thanks, girl! :)

Bee, adding insult to injury, are we? *laugh* Your comment was just too perfect! :)

Anonymous said...

My husband is a die-hard fan of aatukal soup. If I showed him this recipe I am in trouble, he s gonna want me to make it. Thanks for sharing kalai. Love the recipe. :-)

Laavanya said...

Cute meme there Kalai... Good to know a bit more about you.. weird or not... :)

Seema said...

That was a good meme! Enjoyed reading it.

Nice soup, i have had it long before...

Kalai said...

Shriya, you should so make this for him as a surprise! It's really not sooo much work, right? :)

Laavanya, thanks, girl! :)

Seema, thank you! :)

Lavanya Raj said...

Thanks Dear for Passing on Love along with meme..

i enjoyed your meme.

Jayashree said...

Enjoyed reading your meme...

sra said...

Kalai, that was quite funny! About the bananas, the dogs and the hopeless romanticism. :)

jayasree said...

Enjoyed reading your meme.

Sia said...

ROFL @ I am a hopeless romantic! I'd always been one of those girls with fantasies of Prince Charming on a white horse. Well, my husband doesn't know how to ride a horse, but oh, well!
it was fun to read ur meme girl:) enjoyed it a lot...

FH said...

Great MeMe!! Hate Bananas and dogs!! HeHe!! I am not a romantic, very practical instead. I want Arvind come straight home to me at the end of the day, eat dinner, sit on the couch and watch TV without bothering me, which is fine with me! Hahaha!!
Mutton broth looks delcious!:)

Suganya said...

This is my Fav....Love it very much...nice recipe...Nice reading ur meme....

Kalai said...

Lavanya, looking forward to your meme, too!

Jayashree, thank you!

Sra, glad you got a kick out of it! :)

Thanks, Jayasree! :)

Sia, happy that you had fun! :)

Ashakka, you are too funny! He's a lucky man! :)

Sukanya, thank you so much for your sweet words! :)

Seena said...

Hey vertically challenged girl, I posted comment once, but blogger is not accepting it.. :D
soup is great.

AnuSriram said...

Hi Kalai, Nice to know more about you... Interesting Meme... BTW thanks for passing the love to know more about me... Will surely put in something about me.. You are the first to tag me!

Unknown said...

Yummy...my dad loves mutton soup so I grew up with this dish. Looks good. :)

Unknown said...

Hi kalai..That was nice knowing about u from ur MEME..The soup looks delicious

Lavanya Raj said...

kalai..what happened yaar? no posts? come soon.

Sig said...

Loved your meme Kalai... you were emotionally scarred by a banana... hmmm... more explanation please... ;) And the dog thing, I am with you girl... I am absolutely terrified of them too!

Rama said...

Yummy.......nice recipe....

Kalai said...

Thanks, Seena!

Anu, lucky me! Look forward to your meme! :)

Kimberly, thank you and welcome to my blog! :)

Divya, thank u, girl! :)

Sig, you? Scared of dogs? Never would have thought so! :)

Rama, thank you! :)

Pravs said...

oh yummy ! love aatu kaal soup. Loved reading your MEME :)

Shah cooks said...

oh my! urs looks and sounds so spicy and inviting! i have to try this.u know it reminds me of the soups you get at the vietnamese restaurant in Edison..yum.

bazil said...

I ate something like that many times, long ago, prepared by an Pakistani dear friend. I wonder if it is the same dish.
Regarding bananas (an absolutely delicious thing), how about talking to a shrink? It could do a lot better to you.
I just love your writing, and the cuisine is exquisite.
Sincerely,
Bazil

Unknown said...

i will try my best to prepare the
rece'e.thanku .i too hate dogs and snakes.satish