Tomato Soup for the Ninja’s Soul
As the Earth completes its journey around the Sun the days become shorter, flowers die and the ninja’s heart begins to feel the burden of his battles. Then come the colder nights when a ninja needs more than his clothes to keep warm. This recipe contains hearty tomatoes and Indian spices guaranteed to raise the body temperature, as well as the ninja’s staple food: rice. Together, these ingredients will rejuvenate, cleanse and nourish the ninja’s soul. If during this time a ninja finds himself alone in the countryside, he must use his stealth to obtain the ingredients from an unsuspecting peasant.
For this recipe you must gather:
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 cups finely chopped onions*
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/3 cup raw basmati rice
4 cups water or vegetable stock
2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Method
After building a fire, warm the oil in a saucepan. Add the onions, garlic, and salt and sauté on medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent, stirring often. Add the cumin and coriander and sauté for a minute, stirring constantly. Add the rice and water or vegetable stock. Cover and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat. Meditate for 25 minutes or until your ninja intuition tells you that the rice is tender. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, cover, and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender. Add the cilantro, salt and pepper to a ninja’s liking. For a more intense soul cleansing, share with the peasants.
* For a novice, I recommend using your sword. For those ninjas who are more advanced, I dare you to do this using your BARE HANDS.**
** A ninja rarely cries…this may be one of them.