Feel-Good Artichoke Soup

Ingredients

• 400 gram artichoke (1 frozen artichoke hearts pack) - خرشوف
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil - زيت نباتي
• 1 teaspoon butter (optional) - زبدة
• 1.5 tablespoon flour - دقيق
• 2 cup half cream milk (500 ml - OR skimmed milk) - لبن نصف دسم
• 2 cup chicken broth/stock (500 ml - OR vegetable stock) - مرقة دجاج
• 1/2 cup mixed vegetables (frozen peas & carrots) - خضراوات مشكلة
• 2 teaspoon dill (chopped) - شبت
• salt and pepper (to taste) - ملح و فلفل
• 1 large lime (plus extra for serving) - ليمون بلدي

Step by step

1. Defrost artichoke hearts and chop into cubes. Set aside.
2. In a deep soup pot, melt butter (if using any) with oil on medium heat. Add flour and stir for a minute or two until flour starts to bubble.
3. Add milk and whisk continuously on low heat (making sure there are no flour lumps) until milk thickens. Don't rush this step, it takes about 15 minutes.
4. Add one cup chicken broth only then the artichoke cubes. Leave to simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, then add mixed vegetables and let it cook for another 10 minutes.
5. When all veggies are tender, transfer 2 ladles of soup with veggies to a small blender and process until smooth. You can also use a small bowl for a hand-held blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot.
6. Season with salt and pepper. Adjust soup consistency to your liking using remaining stock.
7. Add dill and lime juice and serve warm.