Manchow Soup, Chopping Therapy and other simmering things…

After a long day when all you want to do is put your feet up, cooking a meal feels downright wrong, I know! And this injustice is spread across gender and marital status! Well well gentlemen, have no fear and relax, for I am not here to go into a long rant advising you about how to be a good partner and so on. So, heave a sigh of relief and read on! 🙂

Thankfully, an idea of making and having a soup warms up the cockles of my heart! The day I feel stressed, I indulge in some Chopping therapy. Well, you have heard me right! Chopping, not shopping, therapy. Okay, okay, Shopping is more prefered than chopping anyday! 😉 But constraints of not wanting to brave the the Great Bangalore Post-Office Hours traffic and not disturbing my finances, (yes, in that order of priority) make me opt for the Big C.

So, here am I, after a sad long day, standing with my refridgerator wide open, pondering over the fate of my dinner.Mostly, on sane days, its not that bad with things falling place with my meal planning chart. But sometimes, things don’t feel fall in place properly. Hence, one of the things that I do on those days is indulge in a Manchow Soup…

How I do it…

Initiate a reconnaissance mission of your assets. In the fridge, I mean. What did you think?
Ascertain whether you have 2 varieties each of vegetables in all colours that come in a rainbow. Just Kidding! But usually, green onions, a slice of cabbage, a solitary tomato,a bell pepper or two, few sad green beans, and some mushrooms will suffice.
Okay, this is the best part. Put on your apron, bring out your chopping board, and its revenge time! Let go of all the pent up negative emotions and chop, chop, chop all the above mentioned veggies. But, stay in control and stop before you mince them to a paste! I know how things can get once the emotions start flowing!
Two tablespoons each of the above mentioned things, finely chopped, will do for 2 people. Here’s how my Mis en Place looked like.

Now on, things get a bit easier, a bit less stressful. Heat some oil in a deep bottomed pan. Saute some finely minced garlic, ginger and couple of finely chillies for a few seconds. Use all your might while mincing that garlic! Remember that guy who ruined your day! x(
Next go your veggies and sauté them for a few minutes. Don’t fuss too much sweetie, let go of all of them in one go. Lets keep things simple right! 🙂
Season the vegetables as per your taste with salt, pepper and soy sauce. But, remember to go easy on salt since your soya sauce will be a bit on the saltier side.
After the vegetables are par-cooked, add some stock or even plain water and let it bubble away on slow flame.
Meanwhile, to unify the floating and sinking vegetables, dissolve 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a half a cup of water. No lumps please!
Add to the soup and simmer on a low flame till the plot, err… I mean the soup thickens.
Add a teaspoon of of vinegar and you are done! Please wait till you spoon into a bowl, don’t you start slurping from the pot itself! That’s bad manners sweetie!
Serve hot topped with finely chopped scallions and fried noodles! 🙂