Mulligatawny

Mulligatawny

Serves 12


Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, minced

1⁄4 teaspoon ground cumin

6 cloves, finely crushed

1 tablespoon curry powder

1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger

50g/2oz butter

1 roasting chicken, cut into serving pieces

3 celery sticks, thinly sliced

2 large onions, chopped

2 carrots, diced

1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced

2.4 litres/4pt chicken stock

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

200g/7oz long-grain rice

2 dessert apples, peeled, cored and diced

225ml/8fl oz plain yogurt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

150ml/5fl oz whipping cream, gently warmed



Preparation Method:


Combine the garlic and spices. Melt the butter in a large heavy frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken and saute until lightly browned on all sides. Transfer the chicken to a casserole dish.

Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the frying pan. Add the celery, onion, carrot, leek and spice mixture, and blend well until the spices are aromatic. Add a small ladle of stock and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly, until the vegetables are tender. Add to the chicken.

Stir the remaining stock into the casserole dish, and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the rice to the soup and continue cooking for a further 15 minutes.

When the chicken is cool enough to handle, cut into bite-sized pieces, discarding the skin and bones. Return the chicken to the soup. Peel, core and dice the apples, and blend into the soup with the yogurt. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the lemon juice, then blend in the cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve hot.