We got roasted chicken last night, so we don't need to think of what dish to prepare for lunch. But then, I am craving a soup that we can enjoy, so I thought I should make something. I can't really think of anything that I should prepare. But then, while we were going to the market, I saw this lady selling a bunch of corn, which I think is still new. A freshly picked one, I think.
But I couldn't decide immediately so I said to Mama, We should check the market first, and if I don't see anything that I want, then we'll go back here to buy a kilo of corn. To make a long story short, I bought a kilo of corn and decided to just make corn soup. It's a perfect pair with chili leaves, but sad, I couldn't find one in the market. So I also decided to just use Malunggay or Moringa, as we have a tree of this on our land.
So it's decided, corn soup with malunggay it is (☞o) ☞. Let's G!
Here are the ingredients:
| 1 kilo of Corn |
| a lot of Malunggay leaves |
| 1 medium Onion |
| 4 small cloves of Garlic |
| Salt and pepper to taste |
| chicken cube |
This is actually easy to make, with just a few ingredients. It may look bland without much color in it compare to the other version and soup out there, but with the right seasoning, it will surely taste good and will be flavorful.
So first things first, I soak the corn in water with salt for 1 minute. I just got used to doing this with every veggie or fruit that we eat because I know that it can really kill those tiny creatures that might live there. Do you do this too? Or is it just me?
I set aside the corn and started cutting the onions and garlic to this size. You can cut it to whatever size you desire. You can even put a design on it or a certain shape on it if you have time. Can you do a heart shape out of them? Lol
I washed more of the corn, and after sharpening the knife, I started scraping it with a knife. It is really just easy. I just got annoyed doing this because there are some pieces scattered everywhere, and I have to get them all because they'll be wasted if I just leave them. I want a lot of corn in my soup, and that's why I use one whole kilo of it for the corn soup.
All of the ingredients are now ready, so I proceed with sautéing the garlic and onions in a half tablespoon of cooking oil. I also put the chicken cubes in it. It would be amazing if I had butter or margarine, but this will do. And by the way, I used this stainless steel casserole, the longer type, because it's a soup, you know. And I want my corn soup to be full of soup in it. How about you?
Next is putting all the corn in the casserole while continuously sautéing it. I also added some pepper to it to give it a kick of spiciness. Do you put black pepper in your corn soup? I actually just followed my mom's request, so I used it.
Next is putting "a lot" of water in it. I remember putting 4 cups of water on it the first time. Then I added more to keep more soup on it. They want the corn to be softer but I want mine a little harder. I want something that I can chew on it. And by doing that, we can save more gas, lol.
While waiting for the corn to soften, I go to the backyard to pick up a moringa. I pick a lot of it because the more, the healthier. This is the only one that will give a touch of color to our corn soup.
I boil the corn for one hour, and when I see that I have already achieved the texture I want, I then put in the Moringa leaves that I picked. I made sure to put a lot of it in, and now look, yum yum!
And by the way, you can prep a slurry and put it in the soup to thicken it, but we don't have flour. And I don't really like a soup that is slimy or something, haha. I know some people who put a lot of slurry on their corn soup, and I feel like I'm eating a spit.
And tadaaaaan! Corn soup with moringa leaves is paired with roasted chicken. As you can see, I only have a small portion of rice in there. That's how I ate, or whenever we have vegetables as one of the dishes. I ate more veggies than rice, and that's one of the advantages of having vegetables on your table. How about you? Do you eat like me, or do you eat more rice if there's a yummy vegetable dish on your table?
