Recipes by thomasina miers
© Photographer Tara Fisher
Thomasina Miers, a previous winner of the popular television program Masterchef now owns the Wahaca restaurants in London's Covent Garden and Westfield Centre. Thomasina is now a television chef as well as writing a column for The Times. Tommi is a big fan of Latin food - and of Hass avocados.
Chickpea and chorizo soup with avocado cream by Thomasina Miers
Ingredients
Serves 4
Cooking time: 45 mins
2tsp cumin seeds
2tsp coriander seeds
2 tbsp. olive oil
150g chorizo sausages, skin removed and finely chopped
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 sticks of celery, finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
¼ - ½ tsp. chilli flakes
1 tin of good quality chickpeas, drained and lightly rinsed under
cold water
1 tin of plum tomatoes, chopped
800mls chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 lemon
Extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. coriander, roughly chopped
For the avocado cream:
1 Hass avocado
Juice of 1 lime
1-2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Serves:
4
Preparation Time:
45mins
Method
Gently heat the cumin and coriander seeds in a frying pan for a few minutes to release their flavour and grind to a powder in a pestle and mortar. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a casserole pan and heat for a minute or two before adding the chorizo. Cook over a medium heat until the fat comes out of the chorizo then add the onion, celery and garlic. Lower the heat and cook until the onions are soft. Add the ground herbs, chilli, salt and pepper. Next add the chickpeas and tomatoes followed by the chicken stock and bay leaf. Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Take out the bay leaf and then remove half of the mixture and whiz in a food processor. Return the puree back to the pot and stir, taste, season with salt, pepper and a good squeeze of lemon juice.
To make the avocado cream, peel and roughly cut the avocado and place in a food processor with the lime juice. Whiz to a smooth puree then add the olive oil and whiz again. Season and add more lime juice if needed.
Serve the soup in bowls with a spoonful of the avocado cream, a sprinkle of chopped coriander and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.