Hello everyone! Sorry I’ve been missing for a while! Offline, non-blog stuff took over. But I’m back now and have an irresistible line up of vegetarian recipes for you this year!
I’m in Kerala, India right now, on an Ayurvedic retreat. Its something I do once every two years or so, and there is no better place for this all natural detox, than the beautiful state of Kerala! My daily schedule here includes yoga twice a day, meditation, chanting, two Ayurvedic massages, and cooking class.
Above is the main building of Kalari Kovilakom, the Ayurvedic center I’m staying at. A beautiful, serene place with lotus ponds, a temple, and the nicest staff. The food here is fantastic and all vegetarian. Its all personalized and cooked according to each person’s Ayurvedic dosha (constitution). And the chef Nishant is ever so willing to share his simple, healthy recipes.
The dining room..
Whem I’m not doing yoga, meditation, getting massaged or hanging out in the Ayurvedic kitchen, I sit outside my room and catch up on reading. There is no tea or coffee here. Instead everyone gets herbal tea. This one is kapha tea, made with boiling water and powdered cinnamon, cardamom and long pepper.
I love sitting by the pond in the evenings..
..and feeding the fish!
This is the center’s Ayurvedic kitchen. They use traditional cooking vessels made of brass, wood and stone. And im telling you, it makes a huge difference in the taste!
These are the ingredients for this easy tomato soup. (All the vegetables here come from an organic farm..)
Here is is how chef Nishant makes his simple, healthy, ayurvedic tomato soup. I was blown away by the simplicity of it! And there isn’t a drop of oil in it!
Chop tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, carrots and cilantro root. Yes, the root. Cilantro root has a great flavor, so dont throw it away when you buy a bunch! Its perfect in this soup. And the carrot adds some sweetness to the soup, which is a nice counter point to the tangy tomatoes
Throw all the vegetables and some water into a pot with salt.
Boil till the tomatoes are soft. Then blend the soup.
Strain the soup. Return it to the pot and bring to a boil. Adjust salt if needed. Thats it!
This delicious, super easy, no-oil tomato soup is ready to serve! Needless to say, garnish with cilantro!
Here are some healthy, equally tasty variations to this soup. Keep everything the same, and just switch out the carrots and tomatoes:
Carrot soup – 3 chopped medium carrots, plus half a tomato
Spinach soup – 3 cups fresh spinach
Beet soup – 3 small beets peeled and chopped, plus 1 tomato
Quick, Healthy Tomato Soup Recipe
serves about 2
Ingredients
3-4 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup grated carrot
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon chopped ginger
4 cilantro roots, chopped. Substitute with leaves and stems.
Method
1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan, along with salt and enough water to cover the vegetables, about 3 cups.
2. Bring to a boil, and continue to boil till the tomatoes are soft.
3. Let it cool a little, and blend into a liquid. Pass the soup through a strainer, pushing out all the liquid, using a wooden spoon.
4. Return the soup to the saucepan. If its too thick, add some water. Bring back to a boil. As soon as it boils, turn off heat, adjust salt if needed, and serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro.
oh wow. I’m jealous. That looks and sounds like a beautiful place and a wonderful experience. Enjoy. Must say I love the simplicity of that soup.
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What a wonderful place. So peaceful. That soup looks delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
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awesome photos ! if possible could u pls share the info about the ayurveda center and details or phone number
would like to visit !
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Kalari Kovilakom in Kollengode
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
the place is Kalari Kovilakom in Kollengode
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How wonderful – thanks for sharing! What is the name of this beautiful Ayurvedic retreat centre? Haven’t made it to Kerala yet, but plan to someday.
Kaly
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This is called living life to the fullest Sala. Just by looking at the pics, the places seems so calm and serene. Love the simplicity of the soup (my favorite of all vegetables).
Have a fun time over there. May be you can share more pics of meditation centre, you doing yoga etc 
Siri
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Hi, the whole experience seems so wonderful. Despite being from kerala i have never experienced staying in an ayurvedic centre. The food seems very healthy and inviting.
As an aside…will you be conducting a workshop on food photography in chennai anytime soon?
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Can I just say how jealous I am? Thanks for sharing the photos and the recipe. Sounds delicious and a must try. Enjoy the serenity, Sala.
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I just tried this recipe since I had all the ingredients at home… the soup came out delicious! I loved how simple and easy it was to make. Thanks for sharing!
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:07 pm
that was quick! happy to know you liked it!
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Sala, it’s so good to have you back. I’ve been anxiously awaiting your next food suggestion after making that wonderful acorn squash pilaf.
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Made this as soon I saw the posting! I didn’t have tomatoes, so
used canned tomatoes[added sugar+baking soda to compensate for acidity]
skipped the garlic
used tough cilantro stems, didn’t have roots and added the rest of the ingredients.
added 1 Thai chili because I am a badass!
It was FANTASTIC. The ginger+ cilantro stems gave the soup such an awesome flavor.
Thanks Sala for this simple soup recipe.
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Sala, So good to see you back!
Love everything about this post and the soup. Sure to make this soon..
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Hi would like to know more about this retreat as I have been looking to have a seating for my parents . How do we go about booking for this? What is the best thing here that we shouldn’t miss in terms of treatment. I will definitely t ry the soup as I love tomato soup & ESP make with fresh ingredients & cilantro stems..
Thanks
Sandy
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
the place is called Kalari Kovilakom in Kollengode
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HI
Please let us know the centres name and contact. I would also be interested in looking into a possible visit.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of your stay.
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Jose Dominic Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Kalari Kovilakom
http://www.kalarikovilakom.com
http://www.cghearth.com
email : cherry@cghearth.com
phone:+91 94477 83922
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Sala @ Veggie Belly Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
its Kalari Kovilakom in Kollengode
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Sala it’s so good to see you back here again. I only just discovered your blog before your last post so I’ve been waiting a long time in anticipation for your next recipe! Your time at the retreat sounds just heavenly. I wish I was there. I really look forward to hearing more about your trip to India and seeing all of your beautiful photos.
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Glad to have you back Sala! I’m so envious of your Indian adventures… this retreat sounds absolutely beautiful and exactly what I’d rather be doing. Great recipe to start the new year! I’m enjoying all my fresh summer foods for a while here in Australia, then I’ll be nestling into some deliciously healthy soups as it gets colder, so I’ll definitely add this to my list.
Thanks
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As a raw vegan I make this in the Vitamix and not on the stove…Comes out great.
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Wonderful! Welcome back online, thank you for sharing these lovely photos. I’m excited to see more of your recipes and hear more about the retreat if you care to share. I would also love to learn more about the traditional pots you showed here, why they are used, how they are made, anything about them. Thank you!
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Hey Sala,
Hope you are having much needed R&R. The place looks wonderful. Ahh.. Kerala & natural beauty, nothing can beat it.
I came to your website searching for a soup recipe. Glad that I found this simple and yummy tomato-carrort- onion soup. Very clean taste.
I am relishing it.
Thanks for sharing.
See ya in Portland soon.
Binitha
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Soup does looks delicious,:)
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That place looks amazing. The tomato soup was gorgeous. Really simple but tasty
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You are multi talented and creative. A person who lives life to the fullest. Wish you te very best i life. If I may say…. Get your minor grandma to suthhi potufy for your drushti.
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I wrote mother and it shows minor…sorry for typo.
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Hi,
I was looking for a “healthy” tomato soup recipe, & I came across your’s,
thank you so much for sharing a truly healthy recipe WITH PICTURES (i really liked the no-oil usage part of it).
& What I liked most of your blog is that it provides all vegetarian recipes…I am really glad to have found it…..I am going to make it a point to try out as many recipes of your’s as possible.
keep posting them,thanx.
tc.
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