Lemon Coriander Amla Soup Recipe

Your regular Lemon Coriander Soup with added benefits of Amla /Indian Gooseberry.

Vitamin C rich  soup loaded with anti-oxidants with the goodness of choice of veggies and lemon and fresh Cilantro/Coriander and Indian Gooseberry.

A light and nutritious healing and comforting soup for days whenever feeling under the weather. Rainy Season and Winters bring with them lot of seasonal discomforts in form of cough and cold. Kids especially get prone to immunity related infections. To boast the immunity levels and for such days all one needs is to sip on a warm drink like any herbal tea, hot turmeric milk  like Winter Special Besan Badam Doodh or Hot Chocolate especially kids. Soups not only are filling but also have immune boasters.

Other comforting drinks that can be used when suffering from cold and cough or feeling stressed out and under the weather.. Tomato Beetroot Rasam , Tomato Cilantro and Moong Lentil Soup, Tomato Carrot Rasam, Apple Rasam.

Home Remedies 

In India we have been using lot of home remedies for everyday cuts and burns, seasonal infections, headache, stomachache and any kind of aliments. Like giving  a mix if honey with freshly grated ginger or crushed black pepper or tulsi(Holy Basil leaves) for cough. Giving a mix of caraway seeds with black salt for stomach flatulence. New-born and toddlers are usually kept away form medications for simple cold, cough and stomach related infections and are treated with home remedies only that are being followed in every family since so many generations. Each and every ingredient used in our kitchen specially the spices and herbs can be used for home remedies.

There is a long list and that can be covered in a separate post. I am planning to do one. Hopefully soon will be able to post it.

Immunity boosting Lemon Coriander and Amla Soup

Lemon Coriander is one such simple yet delicious soup, which boosts on the immunity levels and give instant relief from cold cough and congestion. The ingredients of this soup helps to clear up the congested nose and throat and relaxes the senses. The ant-oxidants in soup also aid in weight loss, when included in proper weight-loss diets. The fiber from  vegetables and the water content gives a filling feeling. My maternal grandma and then mom used to make and called it amla ka soup. Adding a pinch of turmeric gives it a nice yellow tinge and adds on to the immune boasting properties.

I always made a kind of herbal tea for my kids whenever they were sick or down with fever. A mix of Holy Basil/Tulsi, Big Black Cardamom, Black Pepper seeds, Cloves and some fresh ginger. In Hindi we call it Kaadha. Mixed with pure raw honey, this concoction gives instant relief form bodyache and congestion in fever.

Ingredients of Lemon Coriander and Amla Soup

I have also added few amla pieces/Indian gooseberry pieces to the soup. I found a bag of Indian Gooseberry/Amla in frozen section of Indian Grocery store here. My daughter had some congestion due to cold, and made this soup for her.

Amla/Indian Gooseberry

Amla or Indian Gooseberry is one of the richest sources of Vit. C. Fresh amla is used in making Chutneys, pickles, juices and stir frys that people have as side dish. Whenever fresh amla was available mom always added 1-2 amla pieces to dal while pressure cooking it. Most of the kids are given Amla Ka Murabba, Amla Candies while growing up. Amla not only is an immunity boaster but also is an excellent liver cleanser, beneficial for eyes, reduces blood sugar levels. It's regular consumption strengthens lungs, helps the urinary system and improves skin and hair quality.

Lemon

Lemon is loaded with Vit. C and is a very good immunity booster. Like amla this too has similar health benefits. Having lemon and honey mixed with warm water  is an excellent detox drink and aids in weight loss. Lemon is also used in face packs or skin brightening treatments. It also reduces the acidity. Having lemon squeezed in warm water after dinner aids in digestion especially after heavy greasy meals.

Fresh Coriander/Cilantro

Fresh Cilantro or Coriander or Dhaniya as it is known in India, is used rich in fibers, anti-oxidants and minerals. It is one of the best ingredient when comes to detox recipes. Mint Coriander Chutney  with variations is one of the most common recipe that is made in almost all Indian households. Used in garnishing most of the lentils and vegetables/curry dishes. It is also in rice preparations like Dhaniya Pulao.

Vegetables used in Vit. C loaded soup

You can use any vegetable of your choice like carrots, peas, corn, mushrooms etc. I usually add finely chopped carrots and sweet corn to it. Rest depends on the availabity. It is basically  clear soup  with no corn flour or other thickening agent added to it.

To get the fresh flavor and aroma of the soup, always add coriander at the end, just before serving. Else, the fresh green leaves lose the color and darken a bit. And also lose in the flavor.

I also do not add many spices, just black pepper here does the trick. Adding garlic totally depends ones preferences. I usually add a tsp of coarsely crushed ginger garlic.

Black Pepper

Another precious Jewel from our kitchens was popular as Black Gold of India. Did you know Black Pepper once was used in barter system for trading. It is a wonder spice and is used in so many home remedies especially for kids. Mix a tsp of raw honey with black pepper, soothes down the symptoms of cold and cough.  Black Pepper Rasam is a popular Rasam recipe from South Indian Kitchens and is used for treating cold and cough related infections.

How to make Lemon Coriander Amla Soup

Ingredients

 

Skip amla incase you don't get it at your place or it is not in season.

In a pan add a tsp of oil. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté it.

Add finely chopped amla pieces, shredded carrots and corn and other vegetables that you are adding along with a tsp of black pepper.

Do not a add more than one tbsp. of amla to it. Soup many get very tangy.

Vegetable stock or plain water, then add juice of 1 lemon. I have used lime that are available here.

Give soup a nice boil and then add finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves just before serving.

So do make this comforting bowl of soup that is not only a cough and cold reliver but also a good stress buster and detox drink. It cleanses the system and adds on to the glowing skin and hair!!

 

Linking my Lemon Coriander  and Amla Soup to my Facebook group Foodie Monday Bloghop where the theme this week is #226GrandMa Remedies. This wonderful theme was suggested by Narmadha who blogs at Nams Corner. Do checkout her wonderful collection of recipes from regular South Indian Cuisine to lot of baking recipes like her recent easy to make Sugar Cookies for Christmas.

Do try this Lemon Coriander and Amla Soup, trust me it is a quick way to feel relived of cold and cough and stress symptoms.

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