Little Black Dress Soup

The chiller cabinets of super markets and deli's in the UK are usually well stocked with the familiar cartons of New Covent Garden Food Co, soup. Occasionally, so are mine. Although not very often because soup has to be one of the easiest ways to make, and eat, a big healthy batch of your 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetables.

So I was really pleased to receive a copy of 'Soup For All Occasions' by the New Covent Garden Food Co recently. It was an anniversary present from one of my sisters, 'J,' who is an amazing cook. All my sisters are amazing cooks. She is an exceptional bread and cake maker who collects beautiful cake stands. I must try to persuade her to share some of her recipes with us...oh and some images of her cake stands too...

Flicking through the pages I was amazed that Baked Rhubarb with Orange and Ginger, as well as Apricot Vodka Granita Cocktail were names of soups.

But I have to say that the name of the soup that intrigued me the most was 'Little Black Dress Soup' on page 93.

A soup which apparently is so light that it doesn't threaten your hips! Which has to be a good thing, yes? Unfortunately though I can't reproduce the recipe here because it's copyright. But I can tell you that It's a Hot and Sour Chicken Soup, containing all sorts of both tasty and healthy ingredients. Things like chillies and lemon grass, garlic and ginger, spring onions, diced chicken breast and fresh coriander. Not too hard to imagine how to make.

Nigella Lawson who I think you'd have to agree with me looks amazing in a little black dress also has a recipe for Hot and Sour Soup, that she makes on what she calls, one of her 'Temple Food Days.' When she requires something that is pure and cleansing, as well as restorative.

Nigella's recipe is for a 'tom yam' a spicy clear soup made with fresh prawns. You could substitute the prawns with shredded chicken breast. If you'd like to make it you can link to the recipe on her website here.