Mulligatawny Soup

5 from 9 votes
31 Comments

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Mulligatawny Soup is a creamy, curry soup with Indian flavors. This soul-warming soup has a smoky-sweet flavor with chicken, rice, golden raisins, carrots, and apples spiced with curry and thyme.

A bowl of mulligatawny soup topped with thyme
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Mulligatawny Soup
  2. Variations
  3. Recipe Tip
  4. Frequently Asked Questions About Mulligatawny Soup
  5. More Unique Soup Recipes to Try
  6. Mulligatawny Soup Recipe

Mulligatawny Soup has a huge profile of flavor. This soup is sweet, savory, and creamy all at once. It is my new favorite comfort food! This dish is filled with unusual (yet amazing) ingredients such as carrots, apples, and raisins. All of the sweetness is offset by savory chunks of chicken and the smoky flavor of curry.

Ingredients in Mulligatawny Soup

  • Carrots and Onions – Carrots and onions get sautéed in butter to make up the flavor base for this soup.
  • Curry Powder – Curry powder is a blend of spices including turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin, and mustard seed. The main spice is turmeric, which gives it that famous bright yellow color. While curry powder is often used in conjunction with hot, peppery spices, the curry itself is not spicy. This Mulligatawny Soup, for example, has zero spice, so it is perfect for kids as well as adults who don’t love spice.
  • Flour – The recipe calls for a few teaspoons of flour to help thicken the soup. However, if you are gluten intolerant, there are a few simple substitutions you can do. Firstly, you can opt to simply leave it out completely and just be sure to use heavy cream (not half and half). The cream will keep the soup thick. For other recommendations see our list of variations below.
  • Chicken Broth – Chicken broth makes up the bulk of the broth for this soup.
  • Green Apple – I think granny smith apples have the best flavor for this soup.
  • Cooked Chicken – Use any chicken you have on hand. Shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked chicken breast, leftover grilled chicken, etc.
  • White Rice – Put uncooked rice directly into the soup and it cooks with the soup.
  • Golden Raisins – The golden raisins plump right up in the soup and make for the perfect juicy bite every time. Golden raisins are typically right next to regular raisins in the grocery store.
  • Thyme – Just a pinch of thyme adds delicious herby flavor to this soup.
  • Coconut Milk – Full-fat coconut milk gives this soup its irresistible creamy texture and flavor.
A spoonful out of a bowl of mulligatawny soup topped with thyme


Variations

  • Serve this Mulligatawny Soup with naan bread and a side salad for a delicious dinner.
  • Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
  • Sauté a few minced garlic cloves with the carrots and onion for added flavor.
  • Add two bay leaves during the first simmer, remove before serving.
  • Instead of coconut milk, use heavy cream or half and half.
  • Add celery in with the carrots and onions for more veggies.
  • Use shrimp instead of chicken for a seafood mulligatawny.
  • Use basmati rice or jasmine rice instead of white rice.
  • Add some spice with a dash of cayenne pepper.
  • Instead of using flour as a thickener, use arrowroot or potato starch (not cornstarch). However, instead of adding it at the first of the recipe, wait until the soup is done. If you feel you would like it thicker, follow the directions on the package for thickening soups. I would suggest mixing 1 tsp arrowroot with 2 tsp cold water together and adding it to the soup.

Recipe Tip

A large pot of mulligatawny soup

I love this recipe so much, I always make a double batch. Then, I freeze half into individual portion sizes. That way I can stick one in the microwave and heat it up to enjoy Mulligatawny Soup any time the craving hits, which is often.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mulligatawny Soup

Does Mulligatawny soup contain meat?

Most mulligatawny soup recipes contain meat, but you can easily make this recipe vegetarian by removing the chicken and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Why is it called Mulligatawny soup?

The word mulligatawny combines two words in the Tamil language to mean “pepper water”. It was created because British soldiers in India wanted soup with their meals, but soup was not common in Indian cuisine. The original recipe was a watered down pepper stew. The modern recipe doesn’t contain peppers, but the name stuck!

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The soup will thicken when cooled, but you can thin it with chicken broth or coconut milk when reheating.

Read Next:One Pot Chicken Massaman Curry

More Unique Soup Recipes to Try

A bowl of mulligatawny soup topped with thyme

Mulligatawny Soup

5 from 9 votes
Mulligatawny Soup is a creamy, curry soup with Indian flavors. Chicken, rice, golden raisins, carrots, and apples are flavored with curry and thyme.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Indian
Servings 12

Video

Equipment

  • large pot or dutch oven

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Saute the onion and shredded carrots in the butter over medium high heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Add flour and curry and cook five more minutes.
    Carrots and onions sauteed in butter with flour and curry powder
  • Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes.
    Mulligatawny soup broth in a pot
  • Add chicken, apple, rice, raisins, thyme, salt, and pepper to the soup.
    Mulligatawny soup broth with apples, chicken, and rice added
  • Cover and simmer for 20 more minutes until the rice is done. When there is about 2 minutes left, stir in the cream.
    A large pot of mulligatawny soup

Notes

  • We have updated this recipe, however we know some people will want the original recipe. The original recipe included only 3 teaspoons of curry powder, ¾ cup of golden raisins, and heavy cream instead of coconut milk. 
  • Instead of using flour as a thickener, use arrowroot or potato starch (not cornstarch). However, instead of adding it at the first of the recipe, wait until the soup is done. If you feel you would like it thicker, follow the directions on the package for thickening soups. I would suggest mixing 1 tsp arrowroot with 2 tsp cold water together and adding it to the soup.
  • Serve with naan bread and a side salad for a delicious dinner.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 22gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 722mgPotassium: 376mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1984IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Even my 3 year old likes this soup. And I love it! It’s in my “favorite recipes” bookmark. It makes so much. I love how I have enough for lunch and dinner the next day!

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