Nothing feeds the soul quite like a bowl of soup. Hearty in taste and texture, and simmering with flavourful ingredients, soups can be had not just as starters but as a meal in itself. Oneza Tabish

A soothing soup with fresh flavours of tomato and coriander leaves, you can have this one on the table in less than 30 minutes. Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable oil 700 g tomatoes, peeled and chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 small leek, finely chopped 1 bay leaf 1 tsp crushed garlic 1/2-1 tsp chilli flakes 1 tsp crushed black pepper and salt 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander 3 cups vegetable stock 1 tbsp cornflour Single light cream (to garnish) Preparation In a medium pot, heat oil and cook chopped tomatoes, shallots, leek, and bay leaf for a few minutes until transparent. Do not brown. Add garlic, chilli flakes, black pepper, salt to taste, tomato paste and coriander, then add vegetable stock. Bring to boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes. Mix cornflour in a little cold water and set aside. Remove from heat and blend to your preferred consistency. Return the soup to heat adding cornflour mix and stir over gentle heat about 2- 3 minutes until thickened. Pour into bowls and garnish with swirls of cream. Ingredients 1 kg minced beef 7 cloves of garlic (sliced and fried) 1 tsp fried onion 1 egg Salt and pepper 200 – 300g chicken breast 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 200ml very cold water Preparation In a food processor, put minced beef, garlic, fried onion, egg, salt and pepper. Blitz until pale pink (it has to be smooth, like a very thick paste). Transfer to a bowl. Do the same with chicken breast. Roughly cut the chicken breast, put in a food processor and blitz until nice and smooth. Put in the bowl with the beef in it. Add in flour and water. Mix well. Boil water in a pot and add a pinch of salt. When it’s boiling, reduce the heat, and simmer. Make balls of chicken and beef mixture.

Wait until they float, it means they are ready and cooked. Take them out. Don’t throw the water as it contains good flavour from the beef. It can be used for the broth. For the broth 1/2 medium size onion, sliced 6 cloves of garlic (sliced, fried) 1/2 tsp ginger Salt and pepper Just add all ingredients into the beef stock and bring to boil. Before you serve the meat balls, put them into the broth so it is warm and nice. Serve with pok choy, soya sauce, fried onions, parsley, chilli sauce, and lime.