Spiced Lentil Coconut Soup — Mulligatawny Soup
A Tamil-British colonial classic born in the kitchens of Pondicherry and Madras, a pepper and lentil broth enriched with coconut milk, apple, and curry leaf so the South Indian rasam tradition and the British officers' table produce one of history's great fusion soups.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
For 2 servings
Instructions
Prep
Rinse 150g red lentils. Finely dice 1 large onion (200g). Finely grate 2 garlic cloves and 12g ginger. Finely slice 1 green chilli. Peel and dice 0.5 large apple (90g). Measure all spices, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, coconut milk, lime juice, and salt into separate bowls.
Bloom
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion, cook 6–7 minutes until deep golden. Stir in garlic, ginger, 5 curry leaves, and green chilli; cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add ground coriander, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, and madras curry powder; stir 1–2 minutes until aromatic.
Build
Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste and cook 1 minute until darkened. Add diced apple, 200g canned tomatoes, rinsed red lentils, 600ml vegetable stock, and 0.75 tsp salt. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Simmer
Cook uncovered 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils dissolve completely and soup thickens to a velvety consistency. Add 200ml coconut milk and stir through; simmer 5 minutes more until fully incorporated.
Finish
Blend half the soup until smooth, then stir back into the pot to create a creamy texture with body. Stir in 1 tbsp lime juice. While soup rests, heat 1 tbsp oil in a small pan over high heat until shimmering. Add 0.5 tsp mustard seeds; let pop 20 seconds. Add 5 curry leaves and 0.25 tsp chilli flakes; sizzle 15 seconds. Pour tarka immediately over the soup.
Plate
Ladle soup into bowls and scatter fresh coriander over each serving. Serve alongside steamed basmati rice, warmed naan breads, and lime wedges.
Recipes use AI and Edamam. Always check for allergens before cooking. Spotted something wrong—email us at hello@grubplanit.com.