Cool White Winter Melon Soup with Herbal Swirls

For a completely different take on soup than the preceding recipe, coconut puree freshened with winter melon makes an intriguing first course. The base derives from a recipe of Julie Sahni’s in Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking. But while Sahni’s is fiery, this is subdued, with only ginger and pepper for snap. Herbs liquefied with yogurt give bright color and flavor.