Five Spice Turnip Soup Recipes

SPICED TURNIPS (SHALGAM MASALA)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in ginger-garlic paste and chile peppers; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir tomatoes, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and salt into the saucepan; mix well. Add turnips and hot water; stir well. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until turnips are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Add brown sugar and coarsely mash the turnips.

CREAMY TURNIP WITH PAPRIKA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep saute pan until shimmering.
• Add turnips, then onion; saute, stirring very little at first, then more frequently, until vegetables start to turn golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and add butter, sugar and garlic; continue cooking until all vegetables are a rich spotty caramel color, about 10 minutes longer.
• Add paprika, thyme and cayenne pepper; continue to saute until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute longer.
• Add broth; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, until turnips are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender or traditional blender, puree until very smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. (If using a traditional blender, vent it either by removing the lid's pop-out center or by lifting one edge of the lid. Drape the blender canister with a kitchen towel. To 'clean' the canister, pour in a little half-and-half, blend briefly, then add to the soup.)
• Return to pan (or a soup pot); add enough half-and-half so the mixture is souplike, yet thick enough to float garnish. Taste, and add salt and pepper if needed. Heat through, ladle into bowls, garnish and serve.

FIVE SPICE TURNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the turnips from the greens and trim each end. Toss with 1 Tbsp EVOO, 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme and 1/2 tsp salt in a large bowl. Spread out in a single layer onto a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, turning over at the 10-minute mark, and remove to cool. Meanwhile in a soup pot, heat leeks, garlic, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp Chinese Five Spice Powder and butter over medium-low heat. Stir every few minutes and make sure the leeks get no brown on them. Cook down until turnips are ready, about 15-20 minutes total. When turnips are done, discard the thyme sprigs and add them to the leeks. Add the potatoes, stock and half-and-half as well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes until the potatoes are very soft. Meanwhile, remove the stems from the turnip greens and chop coarsely. In a skillet over medium heat, add remaining 1/2 Tbsp EVOO. When the EVOO is hot, add greens, 1/2 tsp chopped thyme and a pinch of Chinese Five Spice Powder. Cook the greens down until tender and remove from the heat. Remove the soup from the heat and puree in batches in a blender or food processing until very smooth. BE CAREFUL WITH HOT LIQUIDS! Strain through a colander or chinoise and add the vinegar. Adjust any seasonings and serve hot with a portion of greens on top.

TURNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Place turnips, potatoes, and onions in saucepan.
• Cover with small amount of water and simmer until tender; drain.
• Mash with potato masher.
• Add butter.
• Mix flour with 1/4 cup milk.
• Add to mixture and blend well.
• Add chicken stock.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Return to heat and bring to a boil.
• remove from heat and add remaining 3/4 cup milk.
• Reheat to serving temperature taking care not to boil.
• Garnish with your choice of parsley, bacon or croutons.

CREAMY BROCCOLI-TURNIP SOUP

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, heat cream cheese for 30 seconds. Mix in spice and set aside.
• In another bowl, dissolve bouillion cube in 3 cups of boiling water. When dissolved, pour into a slow cooker.
• Mix the cream cheese mixture into the bouillion water. Add the remaining ingredients, and stir to combine.
• Set slow cooker to cook on HIGH for 2.5 to 3 hours. Then using a hand blender, blend mixture until slightly smooth.

CHINESE BEEF NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy kettle (at least 5 quarts) combine short ribs, water, soy sauce, Scotch, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and skim froth. Add gingerroot, 5 scallions, flattened with the side of a large knife, garlic, cinnamon, aniseed, and pepper flakes and simmer, covered, 2 hours, or until rib meat is tender. Let ribs cool, uncovered, in broth 30 minutes and transfer with a slotted spoon to a cutting board. Chop meat, discarding fat and bones.
• Strain broth through a fine sieve into a large saucepan and add chopped meat. If finishing and serving soup immediately, spoon off fat. For best results, chill soup, covered, overnight and discard fat.
• Add turnips and simmer, covered 10 minutes. Add noodles and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 7 minutes. Soup may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead (cool uncovered before chilling covered). Reheat gently.
• Slice remaining 3 scallions thin and stir into soup. Stir in sesame oil (if using).