Garlic and Tomato Soup with Israeli Couscous

Here comes one more Israel inspired dish, a garlic and tomato soup with Israeli Couscous or Ptitim.

Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion was responsible for invention of"Ptitim" in Israel, when rice was scarce. Ptitim is made of wheat flour and toasted in oven and shaped into small dense balls. Ptitim is known as Israeli Couscous or Pearl Couscous outside Israel.- Wikipedia

This round whole wheat pasta balls are easy to cook and really absorbs the flavor of sauce in which its cooked. Its great substitute for rice when served with stews. It has kinda chewy texture and these balls double in size when cooked.

This pasta can be a great hit with kids.. Neil loved to eat the pasta which I made in tomato and onion sauce. I have a small bag of this pasta which I plan to use more for Neil as he loved the pasta. Also its very quick to make.

It also makes a wonderful addition to a warm and comforting soup, which is easy to make and uses the ingredients which are commonly present in every kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
  
• 1 cup white onion
  
• 1 ½ cup tomato
  
• 2 tbsp garlic
  
• 1 cinnamon stick
  
• 4 red chillies
  
• 4-5 mint leaves
  
• 7-8 basil leaves
  
• 3/4 cup Israeli couscous
  
• 5 cups water
  
• salt (to taste)
  
• pepper (to taste)
  
  

Method:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add chopped onions and cook gently for 7-8 min until softened.
  
• Stir in chopped garlic, sliced red chillies & cinnamon stick and saute for 2-3 min till the garlic is golden brown.
  
• Add finely chopped tomatoes, chopped mint & chopped basil Season with salt and pepper and saute for 5 min till tomatoes are mushy and soft.
  
• Add Israeli couscous and water.
  
  
• Bring the soup to boil, then reduce the heat slightly and simmer gently for 10 min, stirring occasionally and until the couscous is just tender.
  
• Serve with toasted bread slices..
  

Israeli Couscous isn't easily available in India, so you substitute it with small pasta. You could also add alphabet pasta which is available from Bambino..