Summer

Heirloom Tomato "Shorba"

by:
July 29, 2010
4
1 Ratings
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

This is a North Indian dish, comes out very well especially if the tomatoes are fresh and a good way to extract flavor out of Cilantro stems after using the leaves. I would personally like to have it without straining to enjoy the chunky texture. - Minal —Minal

Test Kitchen Notes

Making and tasting Minal’s Heirloom Tomato “Shorba” was a revelation. At first glance, the ingredients are familiar ones. However, the addition of a few unusual suspects make this soup extraordinary. The depth of flavors -- from the citrusy zing of the cilantro and subtle heat of the hot pepper (I used a Serrano), to the dark smoky notes of the cumin seed and savory nuttiness of the chickpea flour -- all tied together with sweet summer heirlooms. I made this and tasted as instructed, straining out the contents, and then had some more with some spoonfuls of chunky aromatic tomato added back in, as Minal suggests in her headnote. Both versions were delicious. Minal suggests serving this soup hot, but it is equally good at room temperature or, as one bold taster tried, chilled. - gingerroot —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 Chopped Heirloom Tomatoes
  • 4-5 Roughly Chopped Fresh Cilantro stems
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 1tbsp Chick peas flour
  • 2 cups Veg./Chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1tsp Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Dash Green Hot Pepper
  • 4 cloves Chopped Garlic
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions
  1. Heat 1tbsp Olive oil in a pot and saute the Garlic & Hot Peppers till golden brown
  2. Add chopped Tomatoes, Cilantro stems and cook while crushing the tomatoes
  3. Once the tomatoes are cooked and dried, stir in the Veg./Chicken broth
  4. Make a slurry of 1tbsp Chickpeas flour with about 1/4th cup water (at room temp.) and stir into the pot. Add Salt & Pepper to taste
  5. Bring this to a boil and simmer till you get a desired consistency
  6. Strain the contents and keep aside
  7. For the "Tadka" - Heat 1 tbsp Olive Oil in a small pan. Add Cumin seeds and wait till it crackles. Immediately add this to the strained liquid and stir
  8. If desired, the liquid can be boiled again. Transfer to soup bowls. Garnish with chopped Cilantro leaves and serve hot.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Marie Roth
    Marie Roth
  • Minal
    Minal

2 Reviews

Marie R. January 27, 2020
No pepper (other than green pepper sauce) mentioned in ingredients. Reading the headliner, mentions a serrano pepper. Heads up to those trying to make this.
 
Minal December 5, 2010
Thank you Amanda & Merrill! I really appreciate your comments