Rice pudding - in a soup (or Avgolemono)

Ever seen the blog www.agirlcalledjack.com? You may have seen her on telly championing budget cooking and publicising child poverty. Well I found her fantastic new book in the library and was ever so intrigued by this Greek soup (find it here.) I've never tried it but liked the look of the simplicity of it so made it for lunch. I followed Jack's recipe but found the lemon a bit cloying - I think I put in too much - so in true Siân style I adapted the recipe in my maverick way. The result is a saucy-soupy-lemony-herby-rice puddingly- bowl of yum. If you added some chicken, peas, sweetcorn and or cabbage you have a party in a bowl.

Serves 2
100g basmati rice
700ml chicken stock
1 tsp mixed herbs
Zest of a small lemon and juice of half of it
2 eggs beaten.

Simmer the rice in the stock and herbs for 15 mins.
Add the lemon to the eggs and mix well. Scoop out a serving spoon of the stock and mix with the egg mega fast. Do this two more times then mix into the stock and rice. Add lots of black pepper and salt.
Next time I'll add some fried smoked bacon and onion.

 

Siân 

Thursday mish-mash veg soup

I often like to make soup at least once a week for lunch, especially nice on a cold day. If my "veggie" friend comes over it's a good way of feeding her, as I never know what to give her other than cheese or egg mayo and salad rolls! It's a good way of using up veg in the fridge, a slightly limp stick of celery, a bristly carrot. 

This one I made today was lovely, peppery from the leeks and another layer of "pepperiness" from the watercress thrown in at the end.....and lots of freshly ground cracked black pepper on top. 

This is what I found in my fridge - onion, a leek, stick of celery, new potatoes and a bag of watercress, half a butternut squash

Sweat in butter, a chopped onion, leek, celery, butternut squash, potatoes and a few lentils, a sprinkling of split peas etc (often called soup mix)

Add about a pint and an half of chicken stock and simmer gently for an hour or so, until veggies and pulses have softened. Season generously. 

Blitz together with a hand blender until smooth

Add a big bunch of watercress and blend again. 

Here it is. Wonderful on a chilly day in February.

Enjoy!!!!

Anne