HOWARD WASSERMAN, ADVENTURES IN KOSHER COOKING
Published August 3, 2021
The Hebrew word “kosher” means fit or proper as it relates to Jewish dietary law. Kosher foods are permitted to be eaten and can be used as ingredients in the production of additional food items.
And when it comes to Kosher cooking, there is a lot to learn, a lot to share, a lot to try, and a lot to eat. The St. Louis Jewish Light is partnering with a fun Facebook group called Adventures In Kosher Cooking and its admin Howard Wasserman to provide more insight and especially more recipes to those of you looking to keep your kosher choices abundant.
Thai Lemongrass coconut carrot soup served chilled or hot
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 white or yellow onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 tablespoon ginger minced
2 tablespoons red Thai curry paste
2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 14- ounce can of light coconut milk
1 3/4 pounds trimmed peeled, and chopped carrots (about 6-7 cups, or 8-9 large carrots)
2 stalks lemongrass tough outer layers remove and pounded with a rolling pin or mallet to release essential oils (substitute 2 teaspoons lime zest)
Dash crushed red pepper flakes
Juice of 1 lime
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the onion and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until the onions are clear and soft, adding a tablespoon or two of water to help prevent sticking if necessary.Add the garlic, ginger, curry paste, and tamari. Sauté for 2 minutes, or until the garlic is very fragrant.
Add the broth, coconut milk, carrots, lemongrass, and red pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove the lemongrass stalks from the pot. Transfer the soup to a blender in batches and blend till smooth, or use an immersion blender to blend the soup completely. Return the soup the pot, stir in the lime juice, and adjust seasonings to taste. You can also stir in some extra broth if the soup is too thick for your liking.
Serve with chopped basil, finely chopped peppers, sprouts or microgreens, sliced avocado, or a swirl of coconut milk or cashew cream, if desired!
