Aromatic Carrot Soup Recipes

CREAMY ROASTED CARROT SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, if desired.
• To prepare your carrots, peel them and then cut them on the diagonal so each piece is about ½″ thick at the widest part (see photos).
• Place the carrots on the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and seasonings. Arrange them in a single layer.
• Roast the carrots until they're caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway. (Heirloom carrot varieties will roast in as little as 25 minutes, but regular carrots are more dense and typically require 35 to 40 minutes.)
• Once the carrots are almost done roasting, in a Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and turning translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic, coriander and cumin (if following a variation, see recipe notes for additions). Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in the vegetable broth and water, while scraping up any browned bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spatula.
• Add the roasted carrots to the pot when they are out of the oven. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, to give the flavors time to meld.
• Once the soup is done cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender, working in batches if necessary. (Do not fill past the maximum fill line or the soup could overflow!)
• Add the butter, lemon juice (or lime, if following the Thai variation), and several twists of black pepper. Blend until completely smooth. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary, to taste. Add another tablespoon of butter if you'd like more richness, or a little more lemon juice if it needs more zing. Blend again, and serve.
• This soup keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for about four days, or for several months in the freezer.

CARROT CARDAMOM SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large nonreactive stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, spice blend, carrots, red pepper, and potatoes. Stir to coat the vegetables with the spices and then sauté until the onion is translucent and the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, white wine, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer the mixture, in batches, to a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Return the soup to the pot and reheat over low heat. Stir in the lime juice and parsley; add the butter and salt and pepper, and heat until the butter is melted. Serve in individual bowls, each garnished with a lime slice.

AROMATIC TOMATO-CARROT SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat butter and oil over low heat.
• Add green onions and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes together with their juice and the cooked chopped carrots, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly thickened.
• Stir in chicken stock, carrot juice, salt, cumin, culinary lavender (or ginger), and pepper.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the evaporated milk and simmer until just heated through about 1 minute longer.
• Do not let it boil.
• Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil, serve, and enjoy!
• If you can find culinary lavender to use in the recipe, it's well worth it!
• A search on the internet should yield many hits on where you can add this wonderful item to your spice and herb collection.

LEMONY CARROT AND CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Steps:

• In a large, dry pot over medium heat, toast coriander seeds until fragrant and dark golden-brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and coarsely crush.
• Return the pot to medium heat. Add the oil and heat until warm. Stir in onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly colored, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
• Add carrots, crushed coriander, salt and 6 cups water to the pot. Stir in the miso until it dissolves. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in cauliflower and cook, covered, over medium-low heat until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the soup from the heat. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until smooth. (Alternatively, you can let soup cool slightly then purée it in batches in a food processor or blender.) If necessary, return the puréed soup to the heat to warm through. Stir in the lemon zest and juice just before serving. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with chile, sea salt and cilantro leaves.

AROMATIC CARROT SOUP

Steps:

• 1. Melt the butter with the oil in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with ginger and mace; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• 2. Add the carrots, broth, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly.
• 3. Puree in batches in a food processor. Return to the pot; stir in orange juice, salt, and pepper. Heat over low heat. Garnish with chives.