Fennel Soup

After a long long wait, the winter is, at last, in full swing. The last few days have been cold and full of snow, and I'm not complaining!

 A good soup does a wonderful job of warming one up from the inside in the winter - so I tired a new type of soup. I had, until now, never bought green fennel even though I am a big fan of fennel seeds.

 So i decided to give it a try, and it was a wonderful new flavour, spiced up with some star anis.

Ingredients 

1 medium size - green fennel, chopped (see how to cut fennel here)

1 medium size - onion, finely chopped

2 cloves - garlic

2 tsp - almonds, crushed roughly

2 cups - water (may need more)

1 - bayleaf

1/4 tsp - pepper powder

2 - star anise

1/4 cup - low fat milk

1 tsp - oil/butter

a pinch of nutmeg powder

a pinch of cinnamon powder

a pinch of sugar

salt to taste 

Method 

1. Heat oil in a pan, add the bayleaf, onion, garlic and cook for a minute.
2. Add the chopped fennel, almonds and water and cook until fennel is soft. Take off the heat and strain. Keep the Stock.
3. When slightly cooled, discard the bayleaf and puree the cooked vegetables in a blender.
4. Transfer the puree into a pan, add the milk, the stock and all the spices. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
5. Serve hot, garnished with star anise. 

Servings - 4 

I am glad that i tried this vegetable, the soup  did come out really well:)