Cucumber Soup

Cucumber Soup in Marathi

serves: 2 persons
Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
2 big cucumbers
1/2 tsp green chili paste
2 pinches black pepper powder
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt to taste
finely chopped cilantro for garnishing

Method:
1) Peel the cucumbers. Cut into thin round slices. Taste both cucumbers as sometimes cucumbers have slight bitterness.
2) Heat oil into a pan. Add chopped garlic. Saute for 20 seconds. Add chopped onion and saute until translucent.
3) Add cucumber slices and salt. Turn the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, cucumber will become mushy.
4) Add chili paste and transfer the cucumber to blender. Add a tsp of lemon juice and black pepper. Blend and make fine puree. Add very little water to adjust the consistency, only if needed.
You may serve this soup when its warm or refrigerate for 2 hours and serve chilled. Garnish with finely chopped cucumber and cilantro.

Tips:
1) To make this soup creamy, add an avocado while blending.