Calling out to all the garlic bread lovers! This recipe is a keeper and I’m sure you’re gonna fall for the jalapeno version. It has everything you would look for; the crunch, the heat, and the cheesy goodness in every bite. It’s simple to make and even more delicious to eat, both kids and adults will equally love it.

Jalapeno Garlic Bread is definitely a party pleaser, it can be served as an appetizer or as a side with creamy soups, for example my Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup. It is best when served hot, right out of the oven. Although the dish may look spicy with the jalapenos, the heat is subdued perfectly by the flavors of cheese and mayonnaise, making it a kids favorite too.

This recipe has been partially adapted from Food Network.

Interested in other party pleaser appetizer recipes? Check these out:

• Hummus
• Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
• Beef Cutlet
• Buffalo Chicken Bites

Happy Cooking…!

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Jalapeno Garlic Bread

Cheesy with a slight hint of heat, this Jalapeno Garlic Bread hits all your taste buds! An easy appetizer and a total winner recipe!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword appetizer, garlic bread, jalapeno garlic bread

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 12 slices

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 1 Italian loaf or French Baguette
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1½ cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
• ¼ cup pepper jack cheese (grated)
• 2-3 jalapenos (sliced into thin rounds)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• Green onions (garnish)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degree F.
• In a bowl, mix together garlic, softened butter, mayonnaise, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, pepper jack cheese, salt and pepper.
• Cut the loaf into half inch slices.
• Spread the prepared mix generously on one side of the bread slices. Top with jalapeno slices and the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese.
• Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese has fully melted. Serve hot.

The post Jalapeno Garlic Bread appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Calling for all the soup lovers out there…! I have something special for you today! Lemme first ask you a simple question, Are you just a lover of soup, or noodles, or even Both? If both, then you are on my team and definitely going to enjoy my dish of the day.

I’ve never had a winter pass by without giving me a cold, and I just hate myself being on that stage. During those days when I was sick and in no mood to cook, readymade soup packets were my lifesavers; they are appetizing, revitalizing, and soothes your throat and nose from all those irritations. Instant ramen noodles are one of my favorite suppers on lazy night. But at times the seasonings in them get way too hot for my husband, and that’s when I decided to start making my own noodle soups.

Homemade Asian style soup bowls are so easy to make than you would imagine, and they are perfect for cold weathers. Have a bowl of hot soup, and then curl under a blanket watching Netflix… life feels so peaceful!!!

You don’t need a long list of vegetables or proteins to make this recipe. Throw in some veggies (even frozen ones will work) and broth to a soup pot along with noodles and boil it, your soup is ready. All that in under 30 minutes! This soup tastes great with any type of greens, so if you’re unable to find bok choy, you can use spinach or any greens of your choice!

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

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Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup

Fuel Yourselves with this Cozy n Easy Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup! With Mushrooms, Carrots, Bok Choy, Green Onions and Soft Runny Eggs... The Perfect Comfort Bowl…!!

Course Soup

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword chicken ramen soup, noodles,, soup

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (cooked and sliced)
• Any neutral oil / sesame oil (as required)
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 1 tsp chilly garlic sauce
• 2 tbsp low sodium soya sauce
• 4½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup sliced carrots
• ½ cup shiitake mushroom
• 3 bok choy (trim off the stem ends, sliced)
• ½ cup green onion (chopped)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 packs of instant ramen noodles (seasonings discarded)
• Salt (as required)

Instructions

• For soft boiled eggs: Fill a pot with water (just enough to cover the eggs), pinch of salt and bring to boil. Once it starts to boil, lower the heat and gently add eggs one at a time. Allow the eggs to cook for 6 minutes for a perfect runny yolk or 9-10 minutes for a hard-boiled egg.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water, transfer the eggs to the ice water to stop the cooking process. Once it is cooled, peel them and slice into half.
• For the soup: Heat a little oil in a large heavy bottomed pan, add ginger and garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
• Add mushrooms, saute for one minute.
• Add soya sauce, chili garlic sauce, broth and bring to boil on high heat. Once it starts boiling, lower the heat and add chicken, allow it to simmer for 5 minutes uncovered. Add the dried instant ramen noodles along with shredded carrots, bok choy and half of the green onions.
• Allow it to boil for 2-5 minutes or until the noodles are soft. Check for the seasonings.
• Ladle soup equally into bowls, top with soft boiled eggs and remaining green onions. Serve immediately.

The post Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup appeared first on Pepper Delight.

It seems Pepper Delight has already been in a Fall mood since a month, all my recent recipe posts have been flying high the yellow orange theme, LOL!!

So, it’s the time of the year when summer starts letting go of its steam, the days get cooler, the occasional chills, unpacking our winter clothes, shopping for Halloween… and of course our cravings for hot n creamy dishes which kick in as we warm ourselves cozying under a blanket or right next to the fire place. Fall has not officially started here in St. Louis as we have a week more to go and I thought well, how better can it get than a perfect soup to welcome this season.

This is my first attempt with a squash soup coz from where I come from, we are not used to making soups out of winter squash. Although we do love it in savory dishes, like my Pumpkin with Yogurt or my Pumpkin with Red Cowpeas recipes which I frequently include in our daily menu. But, as a recent crush, I must say that this recipe has made it to my fav list.

Butternut squash has got a sweet nutty flavor, and is high in fiber, low fat, and an excellent source of Vitamin A. The soup in itself is creamy from the pureed butternut squash, and roasting it prior to pureeing adds a nice smoky flavour as well. Add a pinch of red chili flakes to give it some spiciness, which also elevates the dish overall making it perfect to enjoy on cold days.

This soup is so easy n yum, and suits well for a light hearty lunch or dinner. You can customize its toppings with a drizzle of cream or your favourite nuts, but I recommend something crunchy which in general compliments creamy soups. And of course, a side of warm crusty bread too!!!

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Welcoming Fall with a Soulful Bowl of this Cozy n Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Topped with Olive oil and Pepitas, & Served along a side of Toasted Bread…!! 

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword butternut squash, fall soup, soup

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash (2lb approx.)
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 large yellow onion (roughly chopped)
• 1 medium sized carrot (roughly chopped)
• 2 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp red chili flakes
• 4 cups of vegetable/chicken stock
• ½ cup milk cream
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil (as required)
• Cilantro leaves (garnish)
• Pepitas (garnish)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425-degree F. Trim the tip of the squash, slice into two equal halves, and then deseed it. Place it on a baking sheet (as shown in the picture), rub with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 45- 50 minutes or until the squash is cooked well. You may hear a sizzling sound while roasting, which is completely okay.
• Set the sheet aside to cool for 15 minutes. Once cooled, scoop out the flesh with a spoon and keep aside, discard the skin.
• Heat butter in a large pot on a medium flame. Add minced garlic and saute until it turns fragrant. Add onions and carrot, season with salt and red chili flakes, and saute for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are softened and the onions turned slightly golden on the edges.
• Add the cooked squash to the pot and stir well followed by adding stock, and bring to a boil.
• Once it starts boiling, open the lid and stir once. Reduce to a simmer, place the lid back and cook for another 10 minutes on a low flame.
• If you are using an immersion blender, blend the mix in the pot while its cooking, until it turns creamy and smooth.
• Or if you are using a mixer grinder, remove the pot from the flame once cooked and allow the mix to cool completely. Once cooled, puree it in your mixer grinder (in batches if needed) until it has a smooth consistency. Pour the puree back to the pot and heat it on a low flame.
• Add the cream and stir well to mix completely. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Your soup is ready.
• Serve hot soup garnished with pepitas and cilantro leaves, topped with a drizzle of olive oil, along with a side of toasted bread.

The post Roasted Butternut Squash Soup appeared first on Pepper Delight.

*** Recipe updated on 9/5/2021 with new pictures ***

It’s Pretty outside! Beautiful Fall colors everywhere… Red, Orange, and Yellow; Leaves on the roads, gardens, and some still hanging onto their trees… on their last lap of their journey. It has also started to get cold with the temperature dipping in the evenings. This is my favorite time of the year; relieved that I am through with the peak summers and still weeks away from the harsh winters. The winds and the sudden chills are a bit of a surprise as I’m still in the summer hangover, so something warm and cozy is what I need now. And I can’t ask for anything better than a bowl of hot soup to prep me for this weather. Nothing fancy, just a bowl of classic tomato soup, enough to fill your cravings and warm up you spirits! It’s Rich, Creamy and Tangy, and the freshness of the basil gives it a wonderful balance of flavor!!

Talking about the soups I grew up having, tomato soup was one of the most common versions available everywhere, and then the famous “spicy hot and sour soup” served along with Chinese dishes at restaurants. None of them were creamy, infact I do not remember eating any creamy ones until I moved to the US.  Once I started travelling and exploring, I got to know the many different creamy soups ranging from veg to non-veg versions. The taste initially was quite different for my palate, but over the time I started loving it.

This soup is a no brainer recipe and the key to its preparation is the tomatoes. The riper the tomatoes, the better the soup. Make sure you roast them to perfection, until they are soft and slightly charred, this adds up to the flavour. Ensure not to burn them. You can also use canned – fire roasted tomatoes if you cannot find fresh ripe ones. Puree the tomatoes, saute with garlic, add stock, and simmer. Top with herbs n cream, and your soup is ready!

Enjoy this bowl of delicious hot soup with croutons or grilled cheese sandwiches. Serve them as appetizers for your party or as lunch or dinner.

Interested in other soup recipes? Check these out:

1. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup 
2. Chicken Cilantro Detox Soup
3. Creamy Mushroom Soup
4. Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup

Happy Cooking!!!

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Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup

Cozy, Hearty n Satisfying… a Creamy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup…! Perfect to Welcome Fall & the chilly days ahead…

Course Appetizer, Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword roasted tomato, soup, tomato soup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 6-7 large ripe tomatoes
• 1 onion (roughly chopped)
• 6 garlic cloves (minced)
• 4 cups (32oz. ) low sodium vegetable stock
• 4 tbsp milk cream
• Olive oil (as required)
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and Pepper (as required)
• Fresh basil (garnish)
• Croutons (toppings)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degree F.
• Cut the tomatoes into half and spread tomatoes and onion onto a baking pan. Drizzle olive oil generously and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30- 35 minutes until the tomato slices turn soft and charred on the surface. Remove from the oven and allow it cool for 10 minutes.
• Once cooled, puree it in a high speed blender or an immersion blender. Keep aside.
• Into a large pot, pour a little olive oil and heat on a medium flame. Add minced garlic and saute until it turns fragrant.
• Add the pureed tomatoes, vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to low, add oregano and simmer for 15-20 minutes uncovered.
• Turn off the flame, add fresh cream and top with fresh basil leaves.
• Your soup is ready, serve hot with a drizzle of olive oil, garnish with more basil and croutons. You can also serve grilled cheese as a side.

The post Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup appeared first on Pepper Delight.

I’m sooo pumped up with my New Year resolution to bring you all the healthy stuffs this 2017, and so here is another simple recipe from my pantry to Detoxify…… A Clear Chicken Soup packed with the flavours of Cilantro, Ginger, and Carrots with a drizzle of Lemon Juice! The perfect comforting Appetizer on any wintery day…

Talking about the weather, we have been hit this winter with cold chilly winds, ice storms & freezing rains, limiting us to indoors a lot. And that always calls for something warm… Inside & Out! There is nothing better than curling under a blanket right next to your fireplace, with a bowl of soup in hand, watching a romantic movie or reading a book, and staying warm and cozy…

This simple clear soup is easy to prepare, flavourful, and packed with proteins, vegetables and nutrients. Cilantro being an ingredient in the green paste for this recipe plays a critical role in flavour as well as adding health benefits. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, & dietary fibers which help reduce blood cholesterol levels. Ginger; another ingredient used today provides anti-inflammatory properties thereby helping with digestion. These ingredients are perfect to boost your immune system and clear out any uneasiness, indigestion; keeping you strong and active throughout the weather.

This recipe is also good to empty your refrigerator; just throw into the cooker any leftover proteins, like chicken or turkey. And if it’s bone-in, even better! I badly wanted to include celery in my recipe today but ran out of it in my pantry, so had to limit myself with carrots & onions.

So all set to cleanse your body? Sip a bowl of this wonderful detox soup to feel alive again.

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!!!

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Chicken Cilantro Detox Soup

A Clear Chicken Soup packed with the flavours of Cilantro, Ginger, and Carrots with a drizzle of Lemon Juice! The perfect comforting Appetizer on any wintery day!

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken soup, detox soup, soup

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 4 pearl onions
• ½ tsp black pepper corns
• 1 small bunch of cilantro leaves
• 1 large chicken breast/left over chicken
• 2 carrots (chopped into bite size pieces)
• 1 medium onion (chopped into cubes)
• 1 small piece of ginger (finely chopped)
• 4 cups of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt (as required)
• Pepper (as required)
• 1 cup water
• Lemon slices

Instructions

• Grind the pearl onions, pepper corns and cilantro leaves to make a green paste.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker; add the sliced onions, chopped ginger, and saute until fragrant.
• Add chicken, green paste, carrots, chicken broth, water and a pinch of salt, place the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Take the cooker off the flame, and allow it to rest till the pressure goes.
• Take out the cooked chicken breast from the cooker and shred using a fork or slice into small pieces.
• Add the shredded chicken back to the cooker, mix and season well with salt and pepper.
• Serve soup hot with a drizzle of lemon juice and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Notes

1. You can add any vegetables of your choice including celery, zucchini.
2. Use leftover boned chicken pieces while making the soup as the bones enhance the flavour.
3. You can substitute chicken with Turkey.
4. I have used Swanson’s Chicken Broth which is gluten free.
5. If you are using a whole chicken, replace stock with water while following the instructions.

The post Chicken Cilantro Detox Soup appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Happy New Year…! It’s snowing outside and the cold weather is calling for something warm n cozy. I’m all excited to open the account with a fresh start… so here I am with my first post of the Year!  With an authentic recipe in hand from my mother’s cookbook for a traditional spicy clear soup, what more can I ask for? A perfectly balanced pack of flavours in one bowl, my Malayalee style Rasam!!

Rasam is a typical South Indian tomato soup made with curry powders, lentils, tamarind, spices and other vegetables, served with rice or as soup. There are different variations of Rasam across South India, out of which the Kerala version (from my home state) is spicier. Kerala tomato rasam is tangy, sour, hot, spicy, and lightly sweet; a feel good soup which soothes your stomach anytime of the day. Though instant rasam powders are available in stores, I love cooking it fresh with the original ingredients. It’s a very simple preparation and all you need to tackle is the skill of balancing the spices. Rasam is served in the third course of Kerala‘s biggest feast, Sadya; typically after Sambar and before the last course of curd.

I love Rasam and my husband loves it too; fiery hot. For us, some of the highlights of the dish are; Firstly, the strong aroma of asafoetida which hits you when you lift the lid of your pan, followed by the fragrance of the spices which tickles your senses, a fusion of flavours as you sip your first mouthful, the heat of the soup as it goes all the way down your throat, and finally the chill n soothing relaxation it gives to your stomach. Rasam is also known to have medicinal properties and provides a good relief when consumed hot during a fever, cold, and also helps in digestion and is appetizing.

Enjoy this cozy rasam as a hot n spicy soup, or with steamed rice.

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Kerala Style Tomato Rasam / Soup

Cozy, Fiery, and Spicy… Tomato Soup made with Garlic & versatile Spices, balanced in a Tamarind based Aromatic Flavour.

Course Soup

Cuisine Indian

Keyword rasam, soup, tomato rasam

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 2 medium size tomatoes (chopped)
• 4 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp asafoetida (hing / kayam)
• 1 tsp pepper powder
• a pinch of fenugreek powder
• lemon sized tamarind (soaked in water, squeezed pulp)
• 2 sprigs of curry leaves
• 2 dry red chilies
• small pinch of mustard seeds
• 1½ cup water
• oil (as required)
• salt (as required)

Instructions

• Heat oil in a pan/kadai and splutter mustard seeds. Add dry red chilies, curry leaves, and saute.
• Add garlic and saute until it turns fragrant. Now add the chopped tomatoes and cover the pan with its lid, cook for a minute. Remove the lid and cook until the tomatoes turn mushy.
• Bring the flame to low and add the spices; turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, pepper powder, fenugreek powder, & asafoetida. Mix well and then add squeezed tamarind pulp. Place the lid and allow it to boil.
• Now add water, stir and check salt. Close the lid and simmer for another 4 minutes.
• Turn off the flame, and allow it to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
• Serve hot as a soup, or with rice.

Notes

This recipe is a spicier version, so you may want to adjust the amount of chilly powder and pepper powder used to meet your spice level.

The post Kerala Style Tomato Rasam / Soup appeared first on Pepper Delight.

I love mushrooms, so does my husband.  But we often use it as a side dish or an appetizer, and this was my first soup with mushrooms. Whenever we invite friends over to our house, most of our dishes end up being non-vegetarian and it so happened once that my husband suggested a soup for a change, preferably vegetarian, something which we have not made in a while. That’s how I ended trying this out, but unlike the plain/clear soup versions I thought to give it a creamy twist, and it turned out to be pretty good.

I wanted to make a pure vegetarian version of this recipe, and so I have used water instead of chicken stock which is commonly preferred, and it still tasted delicious.

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Creamy Mushroom Soup

A delicious creamy mushroom soup in less than 30 minutes, perfect for your Soup Day…!!

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword creamy soup, mushroom soup, soup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 8 baby bella mushrooms
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• ½ of a yellow / white onion (sliced)
• 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 1-2 tbsp flour
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup water
• parsley leaves (chopped, optional)
• pepper (as required)
• salt (as required)

Instructions

• Wash and clean mushrooms, pat them dry. Slice into small pieces.
• Heat butter in a pan, add sliced onions and garlic. Saute until the raw smell subsides and the onions become soft.
• Add sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper and saute well. Close the lid and cook for 1 minute.
• Combine with flour on low heat, stir, then add water and mix well.
• Fold in heavy cream and stir well, heat until it starts to thicken up.
• Check seasoning and garnish with parsley leaves (optional).
• Serve warm with bread.

Notes

Do not overcook the onions nor allow it to turn brown.

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