Friday, April 9, 2010

Edible Bowl

It’s incredible how we cook frantically at times, to fix a quick dinner or a short lunch. But often times, we crave for a delicious meal, slow cooked and simmered to perfection, with an enormous touch of seasoning. I suppose in those days, women spend most of their time in their kitchen, relaxing and taking their own time to cook. And I suppose that’s one of the best workouts, which keeps them fit all through.

Today often we eat out at work, microwave some pre-cooked foods or worse, grab a burger from a fast-food restaurant. Not really knowing (or rather caring) what's good and what's not. I suppose this is mostly the daily happenings with working women.

But, for all those days of fast-food, for all those days of eat-outs, for all those days of unhealthy-meals,
here is something with a difference. Inspired and adapted from Panera Bread’s soup in a bread bowl, dear friendly friends, I present you, savored and sweltered onion soup in an incr(edible) bowl.

IMG_2168

SOUP IN A BREAD BOWL
[Serves 2]

  • 2 medium Onions- thinly sliced
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth[Optional]. Use 1/2 cup Vegetable stock instead.
  • a small piece of ginger
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 firm round bread loaf/preferably sour dough bread.
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp oil or more
  • 1 tbsp shredded cheese(Optional)

Slice the bread at the top, just to make a slight opening at the top. Scrape out the soft bread carefully from inside the loaf. It should look like a hollow bowl. Place the bread bowl under broiler for 1 minutes(or less), just to harden the surface. This is done to avoid the bread from absorbing the liquid from the soup.

In wide pan, heat the butter and oil over medium heat. Add the onions and leave it to cook till tender[do not stir in between]. Once tender or lightly browned, fry the onions over medium heat, till they become nicely browned(dark golden brown).

Add the vegetable stock and beef or chicken broth if using, along with the ginger and bring to boil, reduce and simmer for 20 minutes. Mix in the chopped cilantro.

Spoon in the soup into the bread bowl, and top it with cheese if using and broil for just 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately with corn or tortilla chips.

31 comments:

  1. oh wow thats a very beautiful bowl, looks very yum..even i have done a similar dish , will post my version soon....yours look fantastic kalai...

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  2. wow... simply superb.. great idea .

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  3. Sounds very tempting. Click is too perfect.

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  4. lovely recipe kalai :) looks yuumm, I'd love to try a vegetarian version of this one ...thanks

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  5. Very creative. Do visit my blog when time permits. http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/

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  6. Omg wat a fantastic edible bowl Kalai, truly tempting and looks gorgeous...Am inviting myself to ur place to enjoy this incredible bowl of goodness..

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  7. Lovely Kalai recipe dear must try it out at least once in this month.

    Hamaree Rasoi

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  8. Awesome soup in an edible bowl. Can Veggie stock be used since there is no meat involved? One of my favorites!

    We at home do it for clam chowder. If you ever visit Boston/Quincy Area, try the Quincy Market FoodCourt's NewEngland Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. That is the best ever.

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  9. kalai,

    Bread bowl looks really yummy and beautiful. I haven't tried this i need to now.

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  10. I love the glazed look of ur bread bowl...yum yum...So lovely n inviting!

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  11. Sushma - that's wonderful, I will wait for your post!

    Shama, Pavi, Ms.Chitchat - thank you lovely ladies for the lovely comments!

    Suparna - I tried the vegetarian version only. The taste was no less than the original recipe, which uses beef broth.

    Shanthi - Yes, definitely, I will visit you.

    Priya - Anytime. You are always welcome Priya. I would love to cook specially for the wonderful chef!

    Deepa -Thanks dear. Yes, you should try this once. It's my first try and it turned out to be delicious. You can try with your favorite soup and use homemade or store bought bread loaf.

    Lassi - Thanks dear and yes, you can use just the vegetable stock. In-fact, I used only homemade vegetable stock for this recipe. But, the traditional french onion soup uses beef broth to get the nice dark-brown color. I had tried only at Panera Bread, and I loved it the first time I had. Calm chowder in bread bowl, sounds interesting. My sister leaves near Boston, will try this when I am there next time, & thanks for letting me know about it:)

    Swathi and Jay- Thanks for your lovely comments dearies!

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  12. Hearty soup nad I love the edible serving bowl.Beautiful presentation.

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  13. Hai Kalai,,,wonderful bowl with soup...bowl bread looks soo soft,,,and i tried with normal bread loaf like this but with chicken curry here the name is bunny chow am also gonna post that sooon...

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  14. looks delicious..
    its a very healthy soup.i have never tried this one but often have it from panera..
    thanks for sharing such a recipe...nice pic too

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  15. This bowl sure luks incredible.

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  16. I have done this before after trying it in Olive Garden few mths back and it's sleeping in my hard-drive...i used seafood stock for my broth..ur looks very different and love the idea of adding ginger..i should try ur version of the soup bowl soon and let u now ma..

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  17. I too love soups served in bread...I love the soup you have here also...looks good :)

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  18. Sathya - Bunny soup, that's perfect name for the soup in the bun. Never heard of them before. Will wait to see the recipe from you.

    Sara - Oh! in olive garden. I am great fan of Italian food, but never tried this at Olive garden. I will try on my next visit! Sure, you should try this and you would definitely love it, as we did!

    Simlpy.food, Deepti, Gita - Thanks for your lovely comments!

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  19. Sound delicious soup..Perfect sevring bun bowl!

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  20. Ho this looks awesome.

    And kalai thanks for your nice comments on my kale junka

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  21. I love this idea..When I saw this for the first time during a trip to San francisco, I was wondering what it is...lol.wholesome meal, if you finish eating bowl too :D

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  22. Awesome presentation, looks delicious...

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  23. Awesome click. Def makes to try it. Beautiful presentation.

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  24. this looks so wonderfully tasty..delectable..great click too..

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  25. இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

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  26. Kalai - I have some awards for you at http://padmasrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/04/awards-and-tag-from-friends.html. Please collect them.

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  27. Hi u have a wonderful blog.You can also visit my blog and give ur comments.

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  28. oh I so feel like reaching over the screen and grabbing this bread bowl! looks so yummy and tempting.

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  29. HI frist time here...u have a lovely space here... I am too very much fond of this stuffe bread recipes...U can visit here to see my recipe-http://silencesings.blogspot.com/2010/02/stuffed-mini-boule.html....

    will get in tough with u....have a nice day...

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  30. wow yummy. i love bread bowls..

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