Smoked Carrot Bisque Recipes

LARDER'S SMOKED CARROTS WITH ROASTED YEAST

Steps:

• Set up your smoker following the manufacturer's instructions and heat to 250 degrees. Alternatively, set up your charcoal grill for indirect grilling and heat to 250 degrees, using half the normal amount of charcoal (you need less charcoal to keep the heat low). Add the wood to the fire.
• Arrange the carrots on the grate away from the heat and smoke until pliable but still al dente, about 1 hour. To test for doneness, bend a carrot from the ends. The carrot is ready when you can bring the ends to within 2 inches of each other without the carrot breaking.
• While the carrots smoke, make the roasted yeast rub: Heat a dry cast-iron skillet over medium-low. Add the yeast, pepper, cocoa powder, cumin, caraway and juniper berries, and toast, shaking the pan frequently and stirring steadily with a wooden spoon to prevent scorching, until the yeast darkens a few shades to chestnut brown and the spices are fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large but shallow mixing bowl and let cool.
• Add the hot smoked carrots to the yeast mixture and toss to coat. Stir in the maple syrup and oil and mix well. Add salt to taste. Let the carrots rest for 10 to 15 minutes to cool while absorbing the yeast and spice flavors.
• Sprinkle with the chopped celery leaves, if using, and serve at room temperature. Mr. Umansky recommends eating the carrots with your fingers.

SMOKED CARROT BISQUE

Steps:

• Place whole, peeled carrots onto smoker rack. Smoke 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 1 1/2 to 2 gallon soup pot over medium heat. Stir in onions, jalapeno pepper, and garlic, cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Chop carrots, and add to onions along with celery; continue cooking another 5 to 10 minutes until the celery softens.
• Stir in turmeric and curry powder until evenly distributed; pour in vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the vegetables out of the soup and puree in a blender until smooth. Pour the puree back into the soup, and continue simmering 30 minutes more.
• Whisk butter into soup until melted, then stir in cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Strain soup through a fine mesh strainer (china cap), before serving.

CARROT BISQUE

Steps:

• In a stockpot over low-med heat, cook the carrots and the onions in the peanut oil for 7 to 10 min.; cover and stir occasionally. You want the onions to brown but not burn, although if the burn a little bit it's not the end of the world. Add the garlic, curry, salt, and pepper; saute for 1 more minute Add the 3 cups broth, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 12 min., or until the carrots are tender.
• Add the coconut milk and bring to a low boil. Turn the heat off. Use a handheld blender to puree half of the soup; if you don't have one, then puree half the soup in a blender and add it back to the soup pot. Add the maple syrup and stir. Serve hot.

CARROT BISQUE

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, heat 1 cup of brandy on high heat until the liquid is almost entirely reduced (~3-5 minutes).
• Reduce heat to medium and add the stick of butter.
• Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add to the pot when the butter is melted.
• Cook until onions are soft, stirring occasionally.
• While the onions cook, wash, but don't peel, the carrots. Cut them into 1" to 1.5" pieces, then slice in half the long way (resulting in 1"-1.5" long half-moon shaped pieces). Set aside.
• Once the onions are soft, add half of the chicken broth and whisk in the flour (it will probably remain a bit lumpy).
• Add the remaining chicken broth and the remaining cup of brandy. Whisk again and add the carrots.
• Let the mixture boil on medium for ~45 minutes or until carrots are soft. Stir every few minutes to avoid burning the flour to the bottom of the pot.
• Puree the entire mixture in a food processor. (It takes me three rounds to puree it all). Mix for ~10 seconds, scrape the sides, and then mix for another 10-15 seconds. If doing it in batches, grab a large mixing bowl to pour your pureed product into.
• Clean out your stock pot (be sure to get all the flour out). Pour the pureed mixture back into the stock pot and heat to medium. Be sure to keep stirring, or the thick mixture will pop and splatter at you. Not fun.
• Add your spices to taste and simmer for about 5 minutes. (If using crab, add it with the spices.).
• Add the cream and stir until completely mixed.
• If adding scallops, cook them however you like, (I melt some butter in a pan and fry them on medium for 60 seconds, flip them over and heat another 60 seconds) then shred them up and add them to the bisque last thing.
• For added flair: After you have ladled the bisque into bowls, you can swirl a drizzle of extra cream onto the top in a fun pattern.

SMOKED CARROT BISQUE

Steps:

• Place whole, peeled carrots onto smoker rack. Smoke 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 1 1/2 to 2 gallon soup pot over medium heat. Stir in onions, jalapeno pepper, and garlic, cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Chop carrots, and add to onions along with celery; continue cooking another 5 to 10 minutes until the celery softens.
• Stir in turmeric and curry powder until evenly distributed; pour in vegetable stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the vegetables out of the soup and puree in a blender until smooth. Pour the puree back into the soup, and continue simmering 30 minutes more.
• Whisk butter into soup until melted, then stir in cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Strain soup through a fine mesh strainer before serving.