Azuki bean soup

Azuki (or adzuki) bean is grown in East Asia, genetic evidence indicates that the azuki bean was first domesticated in the Himalayas. It is second most popular in Japan after soybean. Azuki bean is commonly eaten as a sweet dish, but this is a savoury dish, recipe of which I found in here. It claims that it helps diminish the appearance of dark circles around the eyes by cleansing the body and it's a great diuretic.

3 cups of azuki beans soaked overnight
2 tbsp of cumin
1 tsp of white pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 diced carrots
2 tbsp of finely chopped fresh ginger
3 cloves of garlic
1 large onion
1 lime juice
3 tbsp of fresh chopped coriander leaves

Put the soaked beans into a pot, cover in cold water and bring to boil. Drain the beans, then add fresh cold water again. Simmer for 30 minutes, then add cumin and white pepper. In a frying pan, sauté diced onion, carrots, ginger and crushed garlic until tender. Add this mixture to the beans, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until beans are cooked through. During the last 15 minutes only, add salt to taste. Adding the salt any earlier will harden the beans. Just before serving, add lime juice and coriander.

Spiced carrot soup with coconut cream

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 small red chilli
1 tsp grated ginger
500 g carrots
1 sweet potato
2 kaffir lime leaves
1 L chicken stock
juice of 1/2 lime
2 tbsp palm sugar
1 tbsp fish sauce
200 ml coconut cream
grated nutmeg

Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add crushed garlic, chopped chilli, ginger, chopped carrots, sweet potato, lime leaves and stock. Bring to boil,then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 min.
Allow to cool slightly, take the lime leaves out, then puree in a blender. Return to the pan with lime juice, sugar, fish sauce and gently reheat. Whip cream until thick. Pour the soup into glasses and top with the coconut cream and sprinkle of nutmeg.

Spicy Spinach and Carrot Muffins

200ml semi-skimmed milk
25g butter
100g spinach
250g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 medium carrots
good pinch of crushed dried chillies
good pinch of black pepper
50 g fresh Parmesan
75 g savoury seeds mix
1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 190C. Place the milk and butter in a large pan over a high heat. When the butter has melted, stir in the spinach and bring just to the boil. Remove from heat and pour into liquidiser or food processor. Whizz until spinach is finely chopped. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
Sift the flour, baking powder and soda into a large bowl. Add the coarsly grated carrot, chillies and season. Stir in most of the Parmesan and seeds, reserving a tablespoon of each. Add the egg to the spinach mixture, then beat with a wooden spoon together with flour. Divide between muffin cases, sprinkle with reserved seeds and Parmesan. Bake for 20-25 minutes.