Heat butter in a cooker, add in bay leaf and garlic, saute for a min.

Add in onions and saute for another min.

Add in beetroot and tomatoes. Saute for 2 mins.

Add in salt, sugar and mix well. Add in water. Cover and pressure cook for 2 whistle. Simmer the cooker for 5 mins. Turn off the heat and let the steam escape all by itself.

Now open the cooker, remove the bay leaf.

Use a hand blender to puree the soup. If you don't have hand blender, cool the mix then puree the soup in a blender.

Pour the pureed soup through a sieve and sieve well.

Mix cornflour with milk and set aside.

Now pour the soup in a sauce pan, add pepper, tomato ketchup and cornflour milk. Boil once.

Remove and serve hot with some croutons.

For Croutons.

Cut bread slices into small squares.

Heat oil in a tawa and place the cut bread slices in oil and fry till golden on both sides. Remove to a plate and set aside