Demystifying the Calorie Count: How Many Calories Are in Chicken Mulligatawny Soup?

Mulligatawny soup is a delicious and comforting meal. It is creamy and mildly spiced, and it has chicken, rice, vegetables, and Indian spices in it. You may be wondering, though, how many calories are in a bowl of this chicken soup if you’re trying to watch your weight.

In this article, we’ll uncover the calorie count of chicken mulligatawny soup by looking at the nutritional breakdown of the ingredients. We’ll also provide tips on how to lighten it up if you want to enjoy this soup while maintaining a healthy diet. Let’s get soup-er savvy on calories!

A Quick Overview of Mulligatawny Soup

Before we get to the number of calories, let’s quickly talk about what mulligatawny soup is. Mulligatawny comes from Southern India, where it was popular during British colonial rule. It is a mix of Indian spices and cooking methods with British ingredients. The name comes from the Tamil words “milagu” meaning “pepper” and “tanni” meaning “water.”

Traditionally mulligatawny is made with chicken or vegetable stock Indian spices like curry powder, cloves, and cumin, onions, carrots, celery, chicken or lamb, rice or lentils, and coconut milk. Contemporary versions may also include apples, potatoes, peas, and tomatoes. The blend of spices, chicken, rice, and vegetables creates a mildly spicy, nourishing soup.

Breaking Down the Calorie Count

The ingredients used in chicken mulligatawny soup determine its calorie density. Here’s a look at the calorie contribution of each component:

• Chicken stock: Negligible calories since stock is made mostly of water. Go for low-sodium stock.

• Onions: 64 calories per cup, chopped

• Carrots: 52 calories per cup, chopped

• Celery: 18 calories per cup, chopped

• Chicken: 231 calories per 6oz boneless, skinless chicken breast

• Rice: 205 calories per cup, cooked basmati

• Spices: Negligible calories for spices and seasonings

• Coconut milk: 445 calories per cup

As you can see, the coconut milk contributes a significant number of calories. The chicken and rice also boost the calorie count. To get a better sense of the full calorie count, let’s look at some complete nutrition facts.

Nutrition Facts for Chicken Mulligatawny Soup

Here are the nutrition facts for two common portion sizes of chicken mulligatawny soup:

1 cup (250ml) serving

• Calories: 205
• Total fat: 12g
• Carbs: 16g
• Protein: 11g

1 bowl (2 cup or 500ml) serving

• Calories: 410
• Total fat: 24g
• Carbs: 32g
• Protein: 22g

As shown, a single bowl containing 2 cups of chicken mulligatawny can have around 410 calories. Of course, the exact amount depends on the specific ingredients and quantities used. More chicken, rice, or coconut milk can increase the calories.

Tips for Lightening Up Chicken Mulligatawny Soup

If you love mulligatawny but want to reduce the calorie count, here are some easy ways to lighten it up:

• Use reduced-fat coconut milk or add less coconut milk.

• Increase low-calorie veggies like tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers.

• Replace the rice with cauliflower rice or lentils.

• Use 98% lean ground chicken instead of chicken breast.

• Skip added fats like oil, ghee, or butter when cooking.

• Season with citrus juice and fresh herbs instead of salt.

• Top with plain Greek yogurt instead of cream.

You can still enjoy the rich flavors of mulligatawny soup while cutting back on the calories by making a few simple changes. Aim for a single serving around 200 calories.

The Takeaway on Calorie Count

When made traditionally, one bowl of chicken mulligatawny soup can contain 400 calories or more. But by using lower-calorie cooking methods and swapping in less calorie-dense ingredients, you can reduce the total calorie count to 200 calories or under per serving.

At the end of the day, this nourishing soup can be part of a healthy diet. Just be mindful of portion sizes and ingredients. With some calorie-conscious tweaks, you can still reap the comfort and flavor of this Indian-inspired chicken soup.