Spiced Mushroom Soup—the last of the chill chasers

Looking at the deep brown broth, catching the scent of the deep, complex flavors—one would think it would take all of a day and a night to make this.  Not so—30 minutes prep, tops.  Soup calls for a bit of Garam Masala—a warm, aromatic Indian spice blend.  Make this yourself:  ground cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg—save any extra in a sealed jar.  Soup recipe is for 2—easily increased, easy to make.

• 10-12 mushrooms—plain or fancy, your choice
• 1 lemon
• Salt
• 1 tblsp ground cardamom
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp garam masala
• 2 cups water

Sauté mushrooms in a little oil until they lose moisture and start to brown.  Add salt and spices– stir well.  Add water and simmer 15-20 minutes uncovered, to reduce a little.  Then add juice of one lemon, stir and simmer for another minute. It’s ready!

The Kitchen Hive