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Laswa
Okra and squash vegetable soup
Laswa (laswa): Iloilo's simple vegetable soup of okra, squash, string beans and leaves
Laswa is the humble vegetable soup of Iloilo and the Western Visayas, cooked on ordinary weekdays with whatever the garden or the market gives: okra, squash, string beans, aubergine and leafy greens, all in a light broth with onion and tomato. Ilonggo cooks often add shrimp; this is the vegetarian version, seasoned with salt and a little ginger. It is light and naturally a little thick from the okra, with about 3 g of protein per bowl; serve it with rice and fried tofu or a boiled egg. The most common mistake is stirring the pot too much once the okra goes in, which breaks it up and makes the soup slimy. Chef's tip: add the vegetables in order of how long they take, squash first and leaves last, so each one is just done.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 1 onionsliced
- 2 tomatoescut into wedges
- ¾ in fresh gingersliced
- 9 oz squashpeeled and cut into 2 cm chunks
- 3 ½ oz string beanscut into 5 cm lengths
- 1 auberginesmall, sliced
- 5 ½ oz okratops trimmed, left whole
- 1 ½ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 4 ¼ cups water, 1 onion, 2 tomatoes and ¾ in fresh ginger in a pot and bring to the boil. Simmer for 3 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften.
5 minStep 2: Add 9 oz squash and simmer for 5 minutes, until it is starting to turn tender at the edges.
5 minStep 3: Add 3 ½ oz string beans, 1 aubergine and 5 ½ oz okra and 1 ½ tsp salt. Simmer for 4 minutes without stirring hard, until the okra is bright green and just tender.
4 minStep 4: Lay 3 ½ oz leafy greens (sweet potato tops, jute or spinach) on top, cover and cook for 1 minute, until wilted.
1 minStep 5: Taste for salt and serve hot with rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does laswa take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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