Thursday, November 14, 2013

Kale Kadhi | Kale Yogurt Soup

Last Saturday I gathered a bunch of my good friends to celebrate Diwali at a dinner party I throw every year. This celebration makes up for all the lost times back home. But I think we are past Diwali now, and onto Thanksgiving , a birthday and the excitement of Christmas coming up after.

For me, Christmas  = warm sunny Sydney this year. I really cannot wait to get away from the New York area! For those who have started suffering this weather with me, I'm sorry that I won't be "enjoying" it for four weeks. But I remind myself, I will be back in the peak of winter.


To cope with this early onset of cold and even a sprinkling of snow, I've been making warm and spicy foods.And huddling indoors and swearing to never ever ever leave the house until the trees start budding again.
For someone who has been dissing kale all season, I find myself eating my words alongside this yummy sweet and warm Kadhi - which is a traditional Indian yogurt soup. I have a bag full of kale that I need to work my way through and I figured the wilted kale in this kadhi might be a good way to avoid the bitter crispiness of kale which I don't enjoy much. In this form, you really can't distinguish it from any other greens like spinach or fenugreek. You could easily sub either of them for kale. The ginger in this soup gives it the warmth that's much needed in this cold season. Besides adding flavor, I'm sure its also delivering all the goodness its so well known for.


Serve the kadhi by itself, or the Indian way with freshly made fragrant basmati rice. Comfort food at its best.

RECIPE
Prep Time : 10 mins Serves: 2-3 people
Cooking Time: 45 mins-1 hour
INGREDIENTS
> 2 cups plain yogurt
> 2 tbsp besan (chickpea flour)
> 1.5" ginger (peeled and minced)
> 2 green chillies (minced)
> 1 tbsp sugar
> 1/2 cup Kale (chopped thinly)
> For Tempering
> 2 tbsp Ghee/Clarified Butter or Canola Oil
> Cumin Seeds
> Mustard Seeds
> ping of hing (asfoetida)
> 2 cloves
> 2 dry red chillies
INSTRUCTIONS
* In a pan, add ginger, green chillies, besan, sugar and yogurt and whisk together nicely
* Once well mixed,add 2.5 cups of water and place it on low-medium flame
* let the kadhi come to a boil and reduce for about 20-25 mins, until the raw taste of besan is lost
At the 10 min or so point, add the chopped kale and let it cook with the kadhi
* If the kadhi thickens while reducing, feel free to add more water. You want to end up with a fairly runny consistency and there is no limit on how much water you add to make it happen.
* At the end, in a separate pan, add oil. Once hot,add mustard seeds, cumin, hing and red chillies (in that order after the previous one sizzles in the hot oil)
* While still hot, add the tempering to the kadhi and simmer for 2-3 mins
* Serve hot by itself or on basmati rice.
* Kadhi reheats easily in the microwave. Note, always to heat the kadhi before eating. Cold kadhi is just wrong!

29 comments:

  1. Absolutely love the use of kale here. YUM!

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  2. Can you take me with you to Sydney? Or at least send me some soup!

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  3. going to Australia in x-mas is on my bucket list as well. hope you will have a great time and share beautiful picture with us.

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    1. I've done it a couple of times now and I highly recommend it. Key is to book by June (I didnt!) otherwise you pay through your nose. There are direct flights out of Dallas.

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  4. Oh I love the addition of kale in kadhi .. Beautiful clicks..!!

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  5. I've never been so Sydney...so envious! Have a great time Archana.

    The kadhi looks delicious. :)

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    1. thanks Ameena, Dec seems so far away right now given so much else going on around me. I need to get into vacation mode, pronto.

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  6. kale kadhi!!! wowza... but honestly I have never tasted kale,..don't get it in India...but really wanna try it!! lovely pics

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    1. honestly, I wasn't a big fan of Kale - especially the cooked kind in sandwiches I get here. But raw and in a kadhi is awesome.

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  7. Oh my goodness! This looks and sounds delicious. The addition of kale is brilliant!

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  8. Lovely Archana, the kale in the kadhi is a great touch.
    Hope you had a great Diwali. When away from home, friends are like family and getting together with them to celebrate is the best way to enjoy a special occasion.
    Hope your little one is doing good sweety. tc

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    1. thanks Asha - and agree friends make up for family! he is doing well, thanks so much for asking!

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  9. What a great addition with the kale. I wish I can come over and try your cooking.

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  10. Have fun Archana, when are you leaving for Sydney? Enjoy the nice weather :-) Do you have any idea where to buy kale in Delhi? I like to to, but have never seen it here...

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    1. thanks Amelia, pretty sure you dont get Kale in India. Yet.

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  11. Delicious. I've made something similar that I learned from my South Indian friend's mom.. but without besan. Goes so well with rice. OMG.. you are going to Sydney.. how awesome. So lucky! Wish I could get away after Xmas and before NYE. :-)

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    1. yeah - its the best time to get away! whats on your travel itinerary for 2014?

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  12. I agree with Tara - I wanna come over and have this dish with you! I will bring dessert... :)
    This sounds like such a comforting dish! Safe travels to Sydney - how big is your suitcase? think it will be able to accommodate me?

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    1. c'mon over, I'd enjoy that meal so much! Talking and eating - two of my favorite passtimes!

      You are so light and tiny, I can fit you in my carry on - so come on!

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  13. I've never come across a Kale Kadhi in all these years! But then I haven't come across kale either, except in the blogs :)

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  14. Wow love the use of Kale in a kadhi. Next time I have those wilted leaves in my fridge I know what to do. It looks yum will try it out soon.

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  15. There is nothing like something warm and spicy when the weather turns cold to give you comfort. This looks and sounds like such a lovely dish. I eat (and cook) a lot of indian food, but I have never tried kahdi.
    *kisses* H

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  16. This is comfort food to me. Wish I could eat this right now with a big bowl of rice. Yummy!

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  17. Such a beautiful recipe with kale and kadhi combination. Love it! Hope your have great trip and warm weather.

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